Harold Burge Obituary

Harold Stewart (Stu) Burge

Stu Burge, deceased on February 6, 2010, at age 73 after a hard fought battle with Pancreatic Cancer.

Stewart (Stu) was born in Eugene, Oregon on September 12, 1936 to Harold and Dorothy Burge from Cottage Grove, Oregon. His father passed away in 1990.

Stu and his family lived in Cottage Grove, Oregon where he attended school and graduated from Cottage Grove High School where he excelled in football and basketball.

From High School, he attended Linfield College for 2 years and then enlisted in the Air Force where he was attached to a B-47 bomb wing squadron, stationed both in Orlando, Florida, and later in Rabat, North Africa. He was honorably discharged in February 1961, after serving 4 years.

During the time he was in the service, he met and married Karen McCloy from Zanesville, Ohio in 1958. They later moved to Cottage Grove where Stu worked for Pass Creek Asphalt and Paving. They had one son, Derek Stewart Burge, born in 1963.

Stu and his family moved to Springfield in 1963 where he became a Commercial Real Estate Broker, Developer and Investor during the subsequent 40 years and continued until his formal retirement in December 2003; he then continued as an Investment Property Real Estate Consultant for the ensuing 10 years while also overseeing his many property holdings. In 1978 he and Bob Nelson co-founded the commercial, industrial and multi-family firm of Metco Investment Realty, Inc.

Stu and his wife Karen divorced in 1965. She later passed away in 1985 in her hometown of Zanesville, Ohio.

In 1975, Stu met his future wife Nadine and they were married in 1977 for 32 years. With that marriage came a blended family, of son Derek, and daughters Alicia and Kim.

During Stu's life, he not only was a success in his business achievements, but he went on to serve his community with full embrace.

Stu served in numerous city organizations; for 5 years he was on the Board of Directors for Junior Achievement, The Child Center Board of Directors and President, for a total of 9 years. Children who needed help was something he focused on his entire adult life.

Stu served on the Springfield Planning Commission for 5 years.

He served 3 elected terms on the Springfield City Council for a period of 12 years. He was elected to one 4 year term as the Willamalane Park Board of Directors and was instrumental in the developing of the first skate park for youths in Springfield.

He was a very strong advocate in getting the new RiverBend Hospital into Springfield.

He was appointed 7 years to Lane County Children's Citizens Review Board to review cases where children have been adjudicated as wards of the state. He was also appointed chairman of the State of Oregon Children's Review Board, something he did not take lightly; children and their protection were his passion throughout his life, and continue to be, via gifting and scholarships.

He and wife Nadine were also previous foster parents.

Stu served 8 years as a member of Lane County Public Safety Coordinating Safety Council.

Throughout his life he made numerous contributions to people and families in need.

Stu loved to travel around the United States with his wife; they spent most of their winters at their home in Rancho Mirage, California, or traveling with their motor home. He loved time spent with family, especially his 6 grandchildren. They all loved Grandpa's Bar-B-Q ribs and plank salmon.

He and his wife are members of Faith Center Church in Springfield, Oregon, and are major scholarship contributors to Lane Community College and Northwest Christian University.

He leaves behind his wife, Nadine; his mother Dorothy Burge of Springfield; his brother Tom Burge and wife Myra of Boise; his mother-in-law Margaret Hollingsworth of Springfield; 3 children: Derek Burge and wife Sally of Eugene, Alicia Whitt and husband Mark, Kim Bump and husband Dan of Evergreen and Broomfield, Colorado; and 6 wonderful grandchildren: Rachel, Katie, Lauren, Brock, Amanda and Allison, and other extended family.

He was a large presence in his life, his family and his community. He was outspoken in defense of his views as well as his commitments to his community, while always remaining true to himself, even when it may not have been a popular point of view at the time.

He will be forever loved by his family and friends.

Please sign the guest book at www.registerguard.com/legacy