Funeral services for Hans H. Burmester, of Pierce, were held Friday, June 17, 2005, at Christ -Lutheran Church, Pierce. Mr. Burmester died Tuesday, June 14, 2005, (Flag Day) at Bucky's Convenience Store, Pierce.
Rev. Neal Mather officiated at the 10:30 a.m. service. Music was provided by organist Lisa Gerdes accompanying vocalist Dean Choat singing I Can Only Imagine. Special music was Daddy's Hands. The congregation sang Amazing Grace, Old Rugged Cross, and Because He Lives.
Casket bearers were Dan Brachle, Mike Stack, Adam Brachle, John Travis Burmester, David Eisenhauer, Jeffrey Snider, Jim Eisenhauer, John Burmester, and Brian Choat.
Military rites were performed by Alvin Kessler Post #5545 VFW.
Visitation was from 4-8 p.m. Thursday, June 16, at Stonacek Memorial Chapel, Pierce. Interment was at Rose Hill Cemetery, McLean.
Hans Heinz Burmester was born July 1, 1932, at rural Randolph, to John Henry and Anna Matilda Elisabeth (Tagge) Burmester. He was baptized and confirmed at St. John's Lutheran Church, Randolph. He attended a rural school near Randolph until the eighth grade and Randolph High School until the 10th grade.
He enlisted in the U.S. Army on December 8, 1952, was promoted to corporal and was discharged on November 30, 1954. He served in Korea. He married JoAnn Hansen on August 18, 1963, at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Coleridge. He married Sharon Means Nelson on June 10, 1983, at St. John's Lutheran Church, Randolph. They farmed south of Randolph and in 1989 they moved to Pierce. He was the 2000 Nebraska hand cornhusking champion. He was a member of Christ Lutheran Church, Pierce, a 4-H leader, served on the church council board at St. John's Church, Randolph for many years, was a local district officer for the VFW, served on the District #76 school board in the Sholes area, was a member of the VFW in Randolph, and the American Legion, Pierce.
He is survived by his wife, Sharon Burmester of Pierce; two daughters, Susan and Francis Kurtzhals of Coleridge, Sally Jo and Dean Choat of St. Edward; three step-daughters, Rhonda and Dan Brachle of Omaha, Marsha Nelson of Norfolk, and Shelly and Michael Stack of Virginia Beach, VA; one niece Elizabeth Burmester; one nephew, John Travis Burmester; 11 grandchildren, four step-grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, first wife JoAnn, one daughter and one son-in-law, one grandson, one brother, and father-in-law.