Once upon a time there was a little girl who grew up to be someone special. From the day she was born, July 23, 1914 to her last day on earth, March 6, 2010, Mary Weyandt Burger left a print on the world. Along the way she gathered husband Arnold Laurence Burger, 5 children, 5 children in law, 11 grandchildren, 9 grandchildren in law and 20 great-grandchildren for a grand total of 50 human beings whose lives she touched. She is further also survived by numerous nieces and nephews.
Besides a year in Soldier Summit, Utah, when she was a first grader, Mary lived in 8 different Colorado communities: Littleton, Palisade, Denver, Berthoud, Ft. Collins, Livermore, Johnstown and Longmont. She graduated from Berthoud High School in 1931 and then attended Colorado A&M, now CSU. In 1957, after she and Arnold launched their family, Mary returned to college at Colorado State College of Education, now University of Northern Colorado, to complete her Bachelor’s degree and to earn her Master’s degree. Mary was a favorite teacher wherever she served. Before moving to Longmont in 1961, she had taught at both Johnstown and Milliken high schools. Her last 14 years of teaching were in the St. Vrain Valley School District where she started at Central Elementary, continued at Longmont Junior High and finished at Longs Peak Junior High as an exceptional Language Arts teacher.
When she wasn’t teaching, Mary most loved time with her family, especially at Christmas. She read newspapers cover-to-cover, crocheted afghans and Christmas stockings for nearly every member of the family. Watching TV game shows and working countless crossword puzzles kept her sharp and in tune with life. But a special thrill in her life was playing the Sizzlin’ Sevens slot machines in Las Vegas and Blackhawk. Mary had a deep Christian faith and many, many friends who loved and respected her. She wrote her own language arts textbook, which has been copyrighted.
Surviving Mary are daughters Donna Thoelecke (Tim), Martha Morgan, Nancy Beauprez (Jerry); sons-in-law Bill Hakonson and Don Morgan; Thoelecke grandchildren Tim, Jr. (Chris), Jeff (Tiffany), Jeanne Miller (Jason), Hakonson grandchildren John (Trisha), Ann Jones (Kevin), Morgan grandchildren Bill (Danielle), Pam, Burger grandchildren Tara Schuetze Boston (Jason), Jed Schuetze, Beauprez grandsons Brad (Christy) and Evan (Carri); and great-grandchildren Claire, Will, Katie, Danielle, Amanda, P.J., Helen, Charlie, Thomas, Aaron, Micah, Lane, Mary, Griffin, Harper, Elizabeth, Maddox, Tucker, Ellia and Cade.
Preceding her in death were her former husband Arnold Burger and children Martin Elliott Burger and Mary Ann Hakonson.
A Memorial Service was held at 1:00 p.m., Friday, March 12, 2010 at the Howe Mortuary Chapel, 439 Coffman St., Longmont. Interment at Greenlawn Cemetery, Berthoud, CO.
Memorial donations are suggested to the HospiceCare of Boulder and Broomfield Counties, 2594 Trailridge Drive East, Suite A, Lafayette, CO 80026.
Please share your thoughts, memories and condolences with the family at www.howemortuary.com [1].