Robert Bruce Burleson

Robert (Bob) Burleson, 82, of Houston, Texas passed away on June 4, 2026 from complications of Parkinson’s Disease. Bob was preceded in death by his wife of 45 years, Sue Lancaster Burleson. He is survived by his wife of nearly 10 years, Sheryl Kapella Burleson, his daughters Lara Leigh Bergoon and Ashley Kramer, sons-in-law Dirk Bergoon and David Kramer, grandchildren Garrett Bergoon, Maddie McKinney (Phillip), Katie Kramer and Ella Kramer, stepson B.K. Kapella and his wife Jenny, and their children Owen and Lavender.

Bob Burleson had a gravitational pull that drew people in and made them want to stay. If you were in a room with Bob, you knew it – he was outgoing, warm, funny, a little boisterous, with a generous smile and a firm handshake. His beginnings were humble, yet he built an incredible life that combined all his great loves – family, music, friendships, and business. To know Bob was to understand that he felt his good fortune in the way he lived his life every day.

Bob was born in Birmingham, Alabama on May 26,1944 to Martha and Joe Burleson. He attended West End High School where he played football and sang in the choir, honing his vocal talents and developing a love for music that would shape both his education and early career. It was at West End High that Robert met and fell in love with Sue, and they began their lives together. Bob graduated high school in 1962 and enrolled at Samford University to study music. Bob and Sue were married in 1966, Bob graduated Samford in 1967, and in 1969 they moved to Texas with their two young daughters in tow. Bob went on to earn master’s degrees in Conducting and in Vocal Performance at Sam Houston State University while working as an opera singer and construction worker.

In 1972 Bob became the Choral Director at Clear Creek High School and the family moved to Clear Lake City where they would stay for nearly 30 years. Bob truly loved his time at Clear Creek High, remaining friendly with former colleagues and students for years to come.

Bob left CCHS in 1975 to go into professional fundraising. After a successful sales career at Tennessee-based Henco, Bob decided to start his own company. He partnered with his former CCHS colleague Russ Colombo to form Express Industries in April 1984. Bob served as President of Express for 30 years, with Russ as Vice President and Sue as Treasurer. Express grew nearly as fast as Bob and Russ’s close friendship, becoming a leading force in the fundraising industry for 30 years. Express was more than just a business, it was an extended family of people who were precious to Bob and to each other.

While serving as President of Express Industries Bob became an inaugural member of the fundraising organization AFRDS, which works to support and connect distributors and suppliers in the industry. Bob both enjoyed and benefitted from his ties to AFRDS, making many friends and serving as President of the organization. He was inducted into the AFRDS Hall of Fame in 2024.

Bob also served on the Board of Trustees of Texas Commerce Bank, Clear Lake Regional Hospital, and The Joy School.

Following Sue's death in 2011 after a brief battle with cancer, Bob wound down his tenure at Express. Good fortune reconnected him with Sheryl Kapella at a local Bichon Frisé club where they bonded over their mutual love of fine wines, Bichons and more. They were married in 2016. Sheryl brought love, happiness and comfort to Bob in his later years and was by his side during his years-long battle with Parkinson’s Disease.

In addition to his professional life, Bob enjoyed golf, travel, the Texas Hill Country, movies, gardening and animals, especially dogs and rescue cats. He was a gleefully shameless cheater at family game nights, as any of his children or grandchildren will attest. He made a great margarita and an even better chocolate malt. He dressed up for Halloween and handed out only full-sized candy bars. He coached sports teams, cooked out for friends, loved the Astros, made crafts with his grandkids, and taught us to sing from our diaphragms. And in the meantime he built a company that provided hundreds of jobs and supported thousands of school kids in sports and music (and sponsored some epic company trips). As he might say, not too bad for a kid from Alabama.

Bob will be remembered as a person of integrity and humor. He was an incredible husband, father, grandfather, loyal friend, and partner to all he worked with. We will always treasure the example he set of loving and cherishing family, and of being grateful and amazed by what life can bring your way. He will be deeply missed and loved always.