Calvin Lester Burge

Calvin (Cal) Lester Burge

Calvin (Cal) Lester Burge, Blue Hill, Nebraska died Friday, February, 1, 2019 at his home in Blue Hill.  Services will be Thursday, February 7, 2019, 10:30 a.m. at St. Paul Lutheran Church, Blue Hill, Nebraska with Pastor Leah Krotz officiating.  Burial with Military Rites by A.L. Shirley Post #176, Blue Hill, Nebraska will be in the Blue Hill Cemetery.  Visitation will be Wednesday, February 6, 2019 from 8:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m. with family present from 6:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m. at Merten-Butler Mortuary, Blue Hill, Nebraska and one hour prior to services at the church.  Memorials can be directed to the Church or A.L. Shirley Post #176.  Private condolences may be sent to the family at  www.mertenbutlermortuary.com.  Merten-Butler Mortuary, Blue Hill, Nebraska is in charge of arrangements.

Calvin was born July 5, 1926 on a farm near Bladen to Lester & Margaret (Andersen) Burge. School years were spent in Bladen, Cowles and Ayr, NE. He graduated from Ayr High School in 1944. He served in the United States Navy from May 1944 to May 1946. He married Ardyce M Reis on September 25, 1948 at rural Immanuel Lutheran Church, Hastings, NE and has spent his life in Webster, Adams & Kearney counties. He spent most of his life as a mechanic in Hastings, Minden & Blue Hill. In 1960 he and his father bought the Ford dealership in Blue Hill, which he was involved in through 1990. They also bought & managed the Blue Hill School buses in 1969 & managed them through 2007. When his father passed away in 1974, Cal continued to manage both the dealership & school buses.

He was a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church, American Legion Shirley Post#176 and Blue Hill/Red Cloud VFW Post #5641. He was a church council member, Sunday school and confirmation teacher. Was a Boy Scout leader, American Legion adjutant, coached legion baseball and town team softball. He was on the initial board to construct Westgate Manor, served on the Blue Hill City Council and past Mayor of Blue Hill, previous member of the Blue Hill Chamber of Commerce and Community Club.  Member of Harness Hustlers Driving Club and Blue Hill Area Improvement Corp. He enjoyed his horses and giving rides and watching his children, grandchildren and school bus kids play sports.

In addition to his wife of 70 years, he is survived by

Sons                                      Clint (Terry) Burge – Blue Hill, NE

                                                Rex (Anita) Burge – Grant, NE

Daughters                           Diana (Bruce) Domeier – Sutton, NE

                                                Janelle (Rob) Lambie – Hastings, NE

                                                Robin (Dick) Gilbert – Clay Center, NE

Grandchildren                   Carmen (Mark) King, Krystal (Pat) Vaughn, Nick (Sarah) Burge,

                Christopher Burge, Timothy Burge, Trisha (Randy) Dietz, Renae (Chad) Hart,

 Brock (Brandee) Domeier, Kiley Domeier, Amy (Dave) Stevens,

 Mitch Lambie, Jeremy (Erin) VanBoening,

 Simon (Susan) VanBoening, Josh (Stacey) VanBoening

Step-grandchildren         Jason (Vicki) Gilbert, Melissa (Brian) Stolley, Danielle (Matt) Anderson

33 Great-grandchildren, 8 step Great-grandchildren, 3 Great-great- grandchildren

Sisters                                   Wanda (Lee) Wright – Waco, NE

                                                Shirley Allen (Bob Tharp) - Hastings, NE

Brother-In-Laws                Wilbur Reis – Cincinnati, OH

                                                Franklin Reis – Waverly, NE

Many Nieces, Nephews, Cousins, Family & Friends

Proceeded in death by

Parents; Brother Ron (Sharon) Burge; Sisters Marcie (Gene) Coutts,

 Donna (Paul) Goedert; Brother and Sister In-Laws Ryal (Virginia) Reis, Ruby Reis, Janet Reis, Vern Allen; Great-grandson Cody Fernau; Niece Rhonda Cox & Nephew; Eddie Doyle.

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