Obituary of Paul D. Burgess

Paul D. Burgess, age 79, lifelong resident of the area, died Thursday, March 9, 2017, at the Bird Hospice House in Iowa City. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 am Tuesday, March 14, 2017, at Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service, with burial to follow at the Oak Hill Cemetery in Coralville. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 pm Monday at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers a memorial fund has been established in Paul’s memory. Online condolences may be sent for his family through the funeral home website @ www.gayandciha.com. Paul Dean Burgess was born January 3, 1938, in Iowa City the son of Ernest F. and Lillian “Bob” (Finley) Burgess. Attending schools in Iowa City he graduated from City High School in 1957. Paul married Mary Agnes Forman on September 7, 1957, at the Little Brown Church in Nashua, Iowa. For over 35 years Paul worked in the Physical Plant Shops of the University of Iowa retiring as General Manager of the shops. Paul was a member of the board of directors for the University of Iowa Credit Union for over 15 years and also a member of the Iowa City Host Noon Lions Club for many years. Paul enjoyed life, especially the outdoors, camping with family, fishing for walleyes, working in his garden, hunting mushrooms, caring for his yard and pool at their home on Bloomington Street, simply being outside was all he needed. For over 20 years he and Mary would enjoy wintering in the Florida Keys. But nothing was more important than being Husband, Dad, Grampa, Great-Grandpa and Uncle Paul, he loved his family so very much as they did him! Paul was a dedicated member of the Iowa Army National Guard for thirty years and achieved the rank of Command Sergeant Major of the 109th Medical Battalion before he retired in 1989. His attendance at many schools and the many different assignments during his career are a witness to his constant dedication to the Guard and his desire to excel. Reaching the pinnacle of the highest enlisted soldiers rank in the organization, and the many awards and decorations he received, to include the Meritorious Service Medal, are a testimonial to his military professionalism. He was always considered a soldiers, soldier and highly respected by everyone he served with. Paul’s family includes his wife, Mary; their children, Paul C. Burgess, Traci Ronan (Jon), Terri DiPaolo (Edward) and Wendy Wortman (Eric); 10 grandchildren, Jill Burgess, Beth Burgess, Ryan Ronan (Rachel), Kristen McRoy (Alex), Kylie Ronan, Austin Ronan, Isabella DiPaolo, Faith DiPaolo, Emma Wortman and Dean Wortman; 3 great-grandchildren, Reese and Ryland Ronan and Bret McRoy; Paul’s siblings, Patricia Detweiler and Arnold Burgess (Shirley). He was preceded in death by his father, Ernest Burgess; mother and step-father, Lillian and Roy Finley, and brother-in-law, Ivan Detweiler.