Kurt Lee Burger

Kurt was born May 30, 1957 and spent most of his life in Overland Park. He was proceeded in death by his parents Ray Louis Burger and Virginia Louise (Lander), his brother Chuck Burger, and his sister Diane Hill. He is survived by his beloved wife of 42 years, Karen Arnold-Burger, his three children, Michael Burger, San Diego, Stephanie Burger, Gardner, Jessica Nasternak and son-in-law Joe Nasternak, Olathe, and granddaughter Kinslee Stambaugh, Gardner.

Kurt graduated in 1975 from Shawnee Mission North High School where he played varsity baseball. He attended Johnson County Community College and Baker University on full baseball scholarships. His senior year in college he was named a first team NAIA Academic All American at 3rd base. He graduated with a business degree and then went on to complete his MBA at Rockhurst College. He worked most of his professional life in human resources management.

In 1979 he married Karen, his high school sweetheart. They went on to have three children. Kurt was an amazing father to his three children. He coached all of their sports including basketball, softball, football and baseball. If he wasn’t coaching, he was sitting on the sidelines cheering them on. They were always his number 1 priority. Although, as most children, they often tried to accuse him of loving one child more than the other, that question was definitively answered with the birth of his granddaughter, Kinslee, who he was quick to say he loved more than anything. He was born to be a papa and he spent every moment he could with her. They were best buddies.

Kurt always had a smile and enjoyed making those around him laugh with a joke or a pun. He had many friends and never met a stranger. He loved the Royals, the Chiefs, and KU basketball. And he never gave up on any of them often saying “that is why there are two halves (or 9 innings)” when the team was down at the end of the first. He was always an optimist, and it was contagious. He was an avid baseball card collector and loved going to shows to either buy or sell. He loved to play blackjack and loved going to the casinos with his kids-particularly when he could get all-you-can eat crab legs at the same time. He loved the 4th of July and Christmas and went all out for both. His family deeply grieves his death but they know he will be with them always.

Kurt requested that, in lieu of flowers, those wishing to pay tribute to him to make a donation in his memory to the University of Kansas Cancer Research Gift Fund kucancercenter.org or to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital at stjude.org or the Kansas City Royals Charities, Royalty Fields Program.

Visitation will be from 6:00 to 8:00 pm, Monday, May 2 at McGilley State Line Funeral Home, 12301 State Line Road, Kansas City, Missouri. A funeral service will be held on Tuesday, May 3, at 3:00 pm, followed by a celebration of Kurt’s life, at the funeral home.