Willis Eugene Burgus (1926 - 2003)

BURGUS, STEPHENSON, GRAY, DAVIS, SNASHALL

Posted By: Karen Brewer (email)
Date: 11/25/2010 at 23:25:34

Unknown Newspaper

Willis Burgus
Willis Eugene Burgus, son of William Burgus and Winifred Stephenson Burgus, was born Jan. 15, 1926, at the family home in Clarke County and died Dec. 6, 2003, at the Kavanagh House in Des Moines. He was 77.

Willis grew up on the farm in Clarke County and attended country school; he graduated from Murray High School. He served his country during World War II in the U.S. Army. He married Viola Gray on Jan. 17, 1950, in Princeton, Mo. He was again called to serve his country during the Korean War.

Mr. and Mrs. Burgus farmed until they moved to Osceola in 1968. Mr. Burgus ran Gray Oil Company for a few years and then began working for the Clarke Community Schools as the bus maintenance supervisor. He retired in 1988 after 15 years.

Mr. Burgus was mechanical and always kept things running in good working order whether it was the farm equipment or school buses. He also tried fixing anything around the house that stopped working.

He enjoyed family picnics, camping trips and reading. After his retirement the couple enjoyed spending winters in Arizona.

He was a member of the Osceola Presbyterian Church.

Mr. Burgus was preceded in death by his parents, brothers, Raymond and Calvin and sister, Eunice Davis.

He is survived by his wife; two sons, Brian Burgus and his wife, Judy Burgus, of Des Moines and Mike Burgus of Osceola; a daughter, Brenda Snashall and her husband, Kevin Snashall, of Suffolk, Va.; five grandchildren, Luke and Melody Burgus, Jessica and Joshua Snashall and Shelby Burgus; several nieces and nephews; as well as other relatives and a host of friends.

Funeral services for Mr. Burgus were Dec. 9 at Kale Funeral Home in Osceola, the Rev. Karen Norton of Newton officiating. Organist was Pennie Gonseth and musical selections were Beyond the Sunset and The Old Rugged Cross.

Casket bearers were Ron Seaton, Billie Chase, Dan Wolfe, Bill Wolfe, Ralph Miller and Richard Aringdale. Interment was in Maple Hill Cemetery at Osceola.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Osceola Public Library.

Headstone Photograph
 

Clarke Obituaries maintained by Brenda White.
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