From Fredericksburg Funeral Home:
John H. Burgner was born in Waller, Texas, on August 2, 1936, the only child of George Edwin Burgner and Mary Ann Byrnes Burgner. He was raised in a small rural house without indoor plumbing or electricity. An elderly aunt gifted him a subscription to National Geographic Magazine that he read by lamplight and he made a decision to travel the world.
After graduating from Waller High School, John studied mechanical engineering at the University of Houston. From there he went on to have a successful career as a specialist in the sale, manufacturing, and maintenance of centrifugal pumps. This enabled him to achieve his childhood goal of traveling the world, first with Afton Pumps of Houston and later with Aramco in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia. His professional papers are now archived at the University of Houston.
While in college, John met the love of his life, Donnie, and together they decided to raise a family while working and trotting the globe.
John had always said he would retire at 50, and in 1985, he and Donnie left Dhahran, resettling in Fredericksburg, Texas. He stayed retired for a number of years before discovering the adventures of a second career in consulting that took him to Iraq, Algeria, Bolivia, the Caspian Sea, St. Croix, Nigeria, and Mexico. This enabled Donnie to join him at various points in the escapades.
John enjoyed driving his '68 convertible Firebird, Porsche 944, and BMW motorcycle throughout the central Texas Hill Country. He embarked on ambitious endeavors that included bicycling 700 miles of the Natchez Trace Parkway and hiking two legs of the Pacific Crest Trail, the second of which ended in evacuation by helicopter after an unseasonable snowstorm put him in danger.
John had a strong personality that bound people for life or sent them running for the hills.
In his later years John took pleasure in the visits of his children and various friends. John enjoyed spirited Sunday school classes, debating scripture with it's daily validity, and the fellowship of good friends from his home church, Holy Ghost Lutheran.
John passed away on November 17th, 2021, peacefully, surrounded by his three children. He is now with his beloved wife Donnie.
John's wife of 59 years, Donnie, predeceased him and he leaves behind his children, Betty Burgner and spouse, Kevin Wornham; Brenda Burgner and spouse, Rev. Herbert Jones, and her stepchildren, Andrew, Laura, and Dylan Kolhoff; and Bruce Burgner and spouse, Troy Christensen. He also leaves his nephew, Roger Burgner and spouse Elizabeth, grandnephew Nathan, and grandniece Evelyn, along with his brother-in-law, William L. Newsom
In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to either the Hill Country Community Needs Council, Holy Ghost Lutheran Church or Doctors Without Borders.
Per his wishes he will be cremated with a celebration of his life to follow.
John H. Burgner was born in Waller, Texas, on August 2, 1936, the only child of George Edwin Burgner and Mary Ann Byrnes Burgner. He was raised in a small rural house without indoor plumbing or electricity. An elderly aunt gifted him a subscription to National Geographic Magazine that he read by lamplight and he made a decision to travel the world.
After graduating from Waller High School, John studied mechanical engineering at the University of Houston. From there he went on to have a successful career as a specialist in the sale, manufacturing, and maintenance of centrifugal pumps. This enabled him to achieve his childhood goal of traveling the world, first with Afton Pumps of Houston and later with Aramco in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia. His professional papers are now archived at the University of Houston.
While in college, John met the love of his life, Donnie, and together they decided to raise a family while working and trotting the globe.
John had always said he would retire at 50, and in 1985, he and Donnie left Dhahran, resettling in Fredericksburg, Texas. He stayed retired for a number of years before discovering the adventures of a second career in consulting that took him to Iraq, Algeria, Bolivia, the Caspian Sea, St. Croix, Nigeria, and Mexico. This enabled Donnie to join him at various points in the escapades.
John enjoyed driving his '68 convertible Firebird, Porsche 944, and BMW motorcycle throughout the central Texas Hill Country. He embarked on ambitious endeavors that included bicycling 700 miles of the Natchez Trace Parkway and hiking two legs of the Pacific Crest Trail, the second of which ended in evacuation by helicopter after an unseasonable snowstorm put him in danger.
John had a strong personality that bound people for life or sent them running for the hills.
In his later years John took pleasure in the visits of his children and various friends. John enjoyed spirited Sunday school classes, debating scripture with it's daily validity, and the fellowship of good friends from his home church, Holy Ghost Lutheran.
John passed away on November 17th, 2021, peacefully, surrounded by his three children. He is now with his beloved wife Donnie.
John's wife of 59 years, Donnie, predeceased him and he leaves behind his children, Betty Burgner and spouse, Kevin Wornham; Brenda Burgner and spouse, Rev. Herbert Jones, and her stepchildren, Andrew, Laura, and Dylan Kolhoff; and Bruce Burgner and spouse, Troy Christensen. He also leaves his nephew, Roger Burgner and spouse Elizabeth, grandnephew Nathan, and grandniece Evelyn, along with his brother-in-law, William L. Newsom
In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to either the Hill Country Community Needs Council, Holy Ghost Lutheran Church or Doctors Without Borders.
Per his wishes he will be cremated with a celebration of his life to follow.
From Fredericksburg Funeral Home:
John H. Burgner was born in Waller, Texas, on August 2, 1936, the only child of George Edwin Burgner and Mary Ann Byrnes Burgner. He was raised in a small rural house without indoor plumbing or electricity. An elderly aunt gifted him a subscription to National Geographic Magazine that he read by lamplight and he made a decision to travel the world.
After graduating from Waller High School, John studied mechanical engineering at the University of Houston. From there he went on to have a successful career as a specialist in the sale, manufacturing, and maintenance of centrifugal pumps. This enabled him to achieve his childhood goal of traveling the world, first with Afton Pumps of Houston and later with Aramco in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia. His professional papers are now archived at the University of Houston.
While in college, John met the love of his life, Donnie, and together they decided to raise a family while working and trotting the globe.
John had always said he would retire at 50, and in 1985, he and Donnie left Dhahran, resettling in Fredericksburg, Texas. He stayed retired for a number of years before discovering the adventures of a second career in consulting that took him to Iraq, Algeria, Bolivia, the Caspian Sea, St. Croix, Nigeria, and Mexico. This enabled Donnie to join him at various points in the escapades.
John enjoyed driving his '68 convertible Firebird, Porsche 944, and BMW motorcycle throughout the central Texas Hill Country. He embarked on ambitious endeavors that included bicycling 700 miles of the Natchez Trace Parkway and hiking two legs of the Pacific Crest Trail, the second of which ended in evacuation by helicopter after an unseasonable snowstorm put him in danger.
John had a strong personality that bound people for life or sent them running for the hills.
In his later years John took pleasure in the visits of his children and various friends. John enjoyed spirited Sunday school classes, debating scripture with it's daily validity, and the fellowship of good friends from his home church, Holy Ghost Lutheran.
John passed away on November 17th, 2021, peacefully, surrounded by his three children. He is now with his beloved wife Donnie.
John's wife of 59 years, Donnie, predeceased him and he leaves behind his children, Betty Burgner and spouse, Kevin Wornham; Brenda Burgner and spouse, Rev. Herbert Jones, and her stepchildren, Andrew, Laura, and Dylan Kolhoff; and Bruce Burgner and spouse, Troy Christensen. He also leaves his nephew, Roger Burgner and spouse Elizabeth, grandnephew Nathan, and grandniece Evelyn, along with his brother-in-law, William L. Newsom
In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to either the Hill Country Community Needs Council, Holy Ghost Lutheran Church or Doctors Without Borders.
Per his wishes he will be cremated with a celebration of his life to follow.
John H. Burgner was born in Waller, Texas, on August 2, 1936, the only child of George Edwin Burgner and Mary Ann Byrnes Burgner. He was raised in a small rural house without indoor plumbing or electricity. An elderly aunt gifted him a subscription to National Geographic Magazine that he read by lamplight and he made a decision to travel the world.
After graduating from Waller High School, John studied mechanical engineering at the University of Houston. From there he went on to have a successful career as a specialist in the sale, manufacturing, and maintenance of centrifugal pumps. This enabled him to achieve his childhood goal of traveling the world, first with Afton Pumps of Houston and later with Aramco in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia. His professional papers are now archived at the University of Houston.
While in college, John met the love of his life, Donnie, and together they decided to raise a family while working and trotting the globe.
John had always said he would retire at 50, and in 1985, he and Donnie left Dhahran, resettling in Fredericksburg, Texas. He stayed retired for a number of years before discovering the adventures of a second career in consulting that took him to Iraq, Algeria, Bolivia, the Caspian Sea, St. Croix, Nigeria, and Mexico. This enabled Donnie to join him at various points in the escapades.
John enjoyed driving his '68 convertible Firebird, Porsche 944, and BMW motorcycle throughout the central Texas Hill Country. He embarked on ambitious endeavors that included bicycling 700 miles of the Natchez Trace Parkway and hiking two legs of the Pacific Crest Trail, the second of which ended in evacuation by helicopter after an unseasonable snowstorm put him in danger.
John had a strong personality that bound people for life or sent them running for the hills.
In his later years John took pleasure in the visits of his children and various friends. John enjoyed spirited Sunday school classes, debating scripture with it's daily validity, and the fellowship of good friends from his home church, Holy Ghost Lutheran.
John passed away on November 17th, 2021, peacefully, surrounded by his three children. He is now with his beloved wife Donnie.
John's wife of 59 years, Donnie, predeceased him and he leaves behind his children, Betty Burgner and spouse, Kevin Wornham; Brenda Burgner and spouse, Rev. Herbert Jones, and her stepchildren, Andrew, Laura, and Dylan Kolhoff; and Bruce Burgner and spouse, Troy Christensen. He also leaves his nephew, Roger Burgner and spouse Elizabeth, grandnephew Nathan, and grandniece Evelyn, along with his brother-in-law, William L. Newsom
In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to either the Hill Country Community Needs Council, Holy Ghost Lutheran Church or Doctors Without Borders.
Per his wishes he will be cremated with a celebration of his life to follow.
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Advertisement
