Charles Burgess' Obituary
Charlie has gone to live with the Lord Jesus Christ. His brief but valiant final battle ended in the first moments of 25 November 2009. Cancer Sucks. Charlie was born Saturday 30 July 1949 to Doris Fullerton Burgess Falk and Charles Preston Burgess in Springfield, Mo.; where he grew up and attended Central High. Charlie proudly served his country as a United States Marine during the Vietnam War. His Honorable Discharge is dated 1974, but he never stopped being a Marine. He was Semper Fidelis. Charlie’s dad made him an old school outdoorsman. He loved fishing and hunting. He was annoyed that his sudden illness caused him to miss this year’s deer season. Charlie absolutely loved the water. From his bright red jet boat to his kayak, and from skiing to scuba diving, Charlie dedicated his life to being on, in, or under the water. He also loved to teach. During the 1980’s he owned and operated the John The Diver scuba shop where he taught diving. In 1998 he and Kathy opened Kansas River Outfitters at Tuttle Creek State Park near Manhattan, Kansas, where he sold canoes, kayaks, and camp gear in addition to teaching water safety, boating, and CPR. In 2004 he moved his operation back to his beloved Ozarks and opened Kayak Base Camp at Menagerie Campground near Bennett Spring State Park where he continued sharing his love of water sports and the great outdoors. Charlie and Kathy owned and operated Menagerie Campground where picnics and fireworks displays were common events and park residents became family. Charlie was predeceased by his beloved Dad. Charlie is survived by his wife Kathy and his Mother. He is also survived by Kathy’s children, grandchildren, and her dad Dave Peck, his brother Johnnie and his wife Angela, brother Roy and his wife Brenda, brother Brian, sister Brenda and her husband Steve, nieces, nephews, cousins, and many good friends. Charlie was passionate about life and compassionate with those close to him. He was a bit of a conservative and had a low tolerance for stupid. Charlie loved baseball almost as much as he loved America. He seldom bit his tongue so family, friends, and strangers knew exactly what he thought. He stood firm for that in which he believed. He will be sorely missed. As you were, Marine. The family extends its gratitude to the kind and skilled professionals of Cox Health and Hospice. A celebration of Charlie’s life will occur at 5:00 p.m. on Monday 30 November at Macedonia Baptist Church in Springfield. A memorial fund has been established at the Central Bank of Lebanon to assist Kathy with substantial medical expenses. **** Obituary written and submitted by the family of Mr. Burgess. Local arrangments are under the direction of the Holman-Howe Funeral Home Lebanon, Missouri. Return to top
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