Francis "Frank" L. Burger

Francis "Frank" Burger 03/30/1918 - 10/10/2016 Frank was born in Eagle Center Iowa to Frank and Catherine (Wieland) Burger. Frank was the oldest of nine children. Frank was a WWII US Army Air Corps B-24 Master Mechanic and Utility man : 15th Air Force, 451st Group, 725 Squadron. His plane was shot down in Hungary 10/13/1944. He was a P.O.W. in Stalag Luft 4, he was liberated 05/01/1945. He recovered in Camp "Lucky Strike" from the malnutrition, this had also caused temporary blindness. Frank returned to Waterloo Iowa and in 1946 he married Luna Margaret Humiston Larsen. Soon after he adopted Margaret's daughter, Patti. In 1947 another daughter was born to Frank and Margaret. After Margaret's death in 1972, Frank married Pauline Schlutz in 1974. On his return home, Frank worked at Rath Packing Company in Waterloo Iowa. In 1956 Frank and his family moved to Bloomington Illinois to work in the precast concrete business. From there he moved on to Moline, Illinois to work in home building and improvement. Later, he owned a roofing business until his retirement in 1984. At that time he moved to San Diego County California. Frank survived his two wives, Margaret and Pauline. He is survived by two daughters Patti (Pat) McDonnell, Francie (Ron) Moore. Eight grandchildren and twenty great grandchildren. He is also survived by four sisters. Marie, Velma, Mary Kay, and Ramona, and many nieces and nephews. Frank was predeceased by his parents, brother Vince and sisters Clotilda and Marcella. Frank was involved with the Veterans Administration and became very active with helping create an EX-POW chapter. He also developed a leadership role in assisting former POWs to receive their Veteran Benefits. Frank was so well liked and appreciated the Veterans had a "Bust" made of him for the Veterans Administration Building in Mission Valley in his honor. Another passion of Frank's was to have a statue of a POW being liberated. This statue was placed at Miramar National Cemetery. He worked tirelessly until that project was completed. Honors and awards presented to Frank: Distinguished Flying Cross Purple Heart Air Medal - Extraordinary Achievement WWII Victory Medal American Campaign Medal American Defense Medal Proclaimed "Veteran of the Year" by the San Diego County Board of Supervisors, November 2001 Organizations Frank belonged to: American Legion U.T.C. Catholic Order of Foresters Knights of Columbus - 4th Degree Elks POW WWII