Charlie Buerger

Charlie Buerger, 88, of Brenham, widower of Mildred Rodenbeck Buerger, died December 10, 2009 in Gazebo Terrace Convalescent Center. Mr. Buerger was born January 9, 1921 in the Sandy Hill Community of Washington County to Willie and Hattie Kankel Buerger. On February 13, 1921, he was baptized in St. Matthew Lutheran Church of Sandy Hill, and later confirmed there on March 21, 1937. He graduated from Brenham High School in 1940, and attended Blinn College. On December 1, 1942, he married Mildred Rodenbeck in St. Peter Lutheran Church of Gay Hill. Charlie attained the rank of First Lieutenant in the U. S. Army during World War II in the 124th Cavalry, 45th Infantry Division. He was a POW, imprisoned by the Germans in Warsaw, Poland. In 2008, accompanied by his brother, he made a memorable trip with the Freedom Flight Group to the World War II Veterans Memorial in Washington, D. C. A self-employed electrical contractor, Charlie was a member of the American Legion, VFW, Salem Lutheran Church, and the Brenham Cemetery Association. He loved to farm, work his cattle, and hunt deer. Most of all, he loved his family, especially his great-grandchildren, who were his pride and joy. Survivors include his daughter and son-in-law, Shirley and Arthur Mickey Hueske; grandchildren: Jason Hueske and wife Julie, and Jamie McCain and husband Chris; great-grandchildren: Claire Elizabeth Hueske, Addison Alyse, Braden Charles, and Kade William McCain; sisters Anita Oberhoff and Helen Jacob; sisters-in-law Dottie Buerger, Irene Busse, and Ruth Rodenbeck; brother-in-law Calvin Rodenbeck; sister-in-law and brothers-in-law Gilbert and Kathryn Janner, and Alfred and Helen Rodenbeck. He was preceded in death by his wife, Mildred Rodenbeck Buerger; son Charles Buerger; parents, Willie and Hattie Buerger; brothers: Lonnie, Walter and Bill Buerger; brothers-in-law Erich Oberhoff, Gilbert, Edward and Wilburn Rodenbeck; sisters-in-law Virginia Buerger and Lilly Smith, and brother-in-law and sister-in-law Bill and Esther Walker. Funeral services for Charlie Buerger will be held at 2:00 p.m., Sunday, December 13, 2009 at Salem Lutheran Church of Salem, with Pastor Charles Parnell officiating. Burial will follow in the Prairie Lea Cemetery. The family will receive friends and family at Memorial Oaks Chapel from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Saturday evening. Serving as pallbearers are Michael Dye, Gene Gray, Gil Janner, John Haarmeyer, Bobbie Oberhoff, and Ronnie Holle. Honorary pallbearers are Walter Thielemann, Earl Bright, Patrick Dye, Terry Buerger, Jim Humphrey, Eldon Mikeska, and all the Harper Hunting Buddies. Memorials may be directed to Salem Lutheran Church or to Hospice Brazos Valley.