David Warren Burger, 66, passed peacefully on Saturday, May 21, 2022 at home. He had been battling ALS for the last few years and fought hard until the end.
David was born October 5, 1955 at St Joe Hospital in Kansas City, MO. He grew up in KC his whole life, attending Grandview High school, graduating in 1974. He worked at Venture from 1973 to 1978, where he met his wife, Rhonda Poorman. They were married November 19, 1975. They had their first daughter, Keri Dawn, on August 10, 1977. Their second daughter, Lori Elizabeth, was born on September 16, 1981.
For the next 15 years, he worked in the hardware business as a salesman. He then was part owner of Peculiar Lumber Hardware in Peculiar, MO. After selling the hardware store, he later worked for Welburn Lumber and then Reeves-Wiedeman. While at Reeves-Wiedeman, he became the sales manager and later opened his own branch for them in Grandview. While working there, he made many new friends and colleagues and his branch was extremely successful. He enjoyed throwing customer appreciation days and getting to know everyone related to his business. The love of his job was what kept him working well into his disease, until ultimately retiring in October of 2020.
Dave loved, loved, loved his family. Spending time with his kids and grandkids was one of his favorite things, whether it be a birthday party or Christmas morning, he was always up to hang. In the summer’s, he enjoyed going to concerts of his favorite bands with his kids or in his younger years, camping with his best friend, Greg. He also enjoyed going to his family’s lake house at Big Lake to relax, fish and meet up with family. Summers for him, also meant BBQ. Along with his daughter and son-in-law, he participated in the Great Lenexa BBQ Battle in Kansas for numerous years and lived for those Friday night parties where he could spend time with his close friends, work colleagues and family.
As much as he loved being with friends and family, he also loved quiet time in his Garage Man Cave. He could be found down there listening to his favorite tunes or watching an old favorite movie. He loved sipping on a good beer or glass of Franzia’s best Chillable Red and relaxing.
He loved quiet time in his makeshift man cave, but he also loved being in the kitchen. He was always finding new, crazy recipes to cook up or making them up as he went. He definitely loved trying new things and creating hot messes with random ingredients.
If you knew Dave, you knew how extremely goofy and silly he was! He would crack himself and others up reciting his favorite movie lines or cracking a silly or sarcastic joke. He had the most infectious laugh and was more often doing that than not. He loved a good party, cared deeply for people and could make anyone feel at home in his company. He truly was special.
He was preceded in death by his mother, Hazel Verlene Thompson-Burger, his father, Glenn Francis Burger, grandparents on both sides and many Aunts and Uncles.
He is survived by his wife Rhonda Sue Poorman-Burger of 47 years, his daughters Keri Dawn (Tom), Lori Elizabeth (Dave) and his four grandkids, Hayden Thomas, Morgan Elizabeth, Atticus Edward King, Soren Francis King, his siblings, Glenna Marie (Joe), Phillip Richard (Mary), Rhonda Lea (Jim) and many nieces and nephews.
There will be a Celebration of Life for David on June 11, 2022 at Betty C’s Bar and Grill from 11am-3pm (11121 Johnson Drive, Shawnee KS 66203).
In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to the ALS Association in Dave’s name. (Donate | The ALS Association)
Lastly, we would like to thank the amazing, wonderful people of Ascend Hospice. Their compassion, expertise, humor and quick wit, kept him comfortable, ornery and happy in his final days. Their support for the whole family went way beyond their daily duties and will be forever remembered and appreciated. Also, a huge thank you to all the family and friends who stepped in to give my mom and us a break and help in any way. Our support group was one of kind and we could not be more thankful for you all. Helping my dad on his journey was no small feat, but without the awesome village we had, it would have been impossible. We love you all.
