Marlowe Parklin Burgy, 29 Nov 1919 - 01 Jun 2014

BURGY, FURLER, MOERSHEL, CROPF, JAKIMZAK, RUNDLE, JONES, OLSEN, CUMMINGS, MINZNER

Posted By: Sandy Ficken (email)
Date: 7/30/2014 at 15:54:43

Marlowe Burgy, 94

Memorial service for Marlowe P. Burgy, 94, Eagle River, Wis., will be held at 11:30 a.m. Saturday, July 26, at First Congregational United Church of Christ, Eagle River. He died June 1, 2014, at Eagle River, following a short illness.

Marlowe Parklin Burgy was born Nov. 29, 1919, at the family farmstead in Conroy, the son of John and Anna (Furler) Burgy.

He was raised on the family farm and when he was two, his father died from injuries received when the entire family was involved in the first fatal automobile accident in Iowa County. In order to attend high school, he stayed with the family of a local jeweler where he worked for his room and board while attending Marengo High School.

He went on to attend Iowa State University at Ames where he was an accomplished track athlete as a miler, and earned his bachelor’s degree in forestry.

He joined the Army from Camp Dodge, Herrold, in 1943.

He married Mary Jane Moershel, Homestead, Aug. 13, 1944, in Cedar Rapids, where they resided while Marlowe completed his military service in Germany. Several of his letters home were published in the Williamsburg Journal-Tribune in 1945.

During World War II, he served as a 1st Lieutenant with the 725th Field Artillery Battalion in Germany as an aerial forward spotter and would call in coordinates from a small aircraft while over enemy held territory so American troops could adjust their artillery fire.

He flew 61 sorties from early February through mid-March of 1945 to obtain information on enemy-held territory. On one occasion, half-way through the sorties, the pilot of the small aircraft he was aboard crash landed when he was wounded by rifle fire, and Marlowe was back out again the next day. He was awarded the Air Medal for meritorious achievement while participating in aerial flight. He also enjoyed going on the Honor Flight to Washington, D.C., in May of 2012, departing from Wausau, Wis.

Following the war, the family moved to Tomahawk, Wis., in 1947 where he began his long career in forestry, first as a forester for National Container Corporation, and then as woodlands manager with Owens-Illinois Paper where he remained until his 1975 transfer as woodlands manager for O-I’s mill in Big Island, Va.

While in Tomahawk he was very active in community, church and professional matters. He contributed to several DNR publications and other works as related to trees and wildlife.

He served as president of the Jaycees, was chairman of Tomahawk Park Board/Committee, a member of Lions Club, on the board of directors for Trees for Tomorrow in Eagle River, on the Lincoln County Law Enforcement Committee and many more. He was a very dedicated member of the First Congregational Church in Tomahawk and served as Sunday school superintendent for many years.

Upon finishing his working years in Virginia, he retired to Sun Lakes, Ariz., in 1983 where he and Mary enjoyed golf, travelling and entertaining with their many friends. He was a very active member of the Sun Lakes Methodist Church and its charitable projects.

In the summer of 2007 they relocated to Eagle River, where he was happy spending time near their family. He became an active member of the First Congregational United Church of Christ in Eagle River.

Marlowe had an abiding love for the outdoors since boyhood and loved his many miles walked among the trees, and was also an eager fisherman and hunter. He was an avid reader, a studious blackjack player, and was ever devoted to his family, and his Lord. He and Mary were married for just two months shy of 70 years

Burgy is survived by his wife, Mary, son Dennis (Donna Adams), Eagle River; grandchildren, Jennifer (William) Cropf, Philadelphia, Penn.; Ryan Burgy, Eagle River; Bree Ann (Edward) Jakimzak, Encinitas, Calif.; Captain Steven (Hannah) Jones, Japan; step-grandchildren, Sara (Steve) Olsen, Simi Valley, Calif.; Matt Cummings, Eagle River; son-in-law, Leonard (Deborah Rundle) Jones, Harrisburg, Penn.; former daughter-in-law, Carol Burgy, Eagle River; sister-in-law, Marie Burgy, Amana; four great-grandchildren, Emilia Cropf, Elijah Cropf, Joselyn Cropf and Joseph Cropf; one step-great-grandchild, Bodie Olsen; four nephews, David (Barbara) Burgy, Conroy; Jeff Burgy, Larry Burgy, Amana, and Robert (Sandy) Burgy, Fairborn, Ohio.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a daughter, Debra Jones; brothers, Eldred and Ervin; niece, Pamela Minzner; sister-in-law, Rita Burgy, and brother-in-law, Donald Moershel.

Williamsburg Journal Tribune, 24 Jul 2014