Dennis Burmeister

CLICK HERE TO WATCH DENNIS'S CELEBRATION OF LIFE SERVICE

Dennis James Burmeister was born on November 28, 1957, to Carl and Frances (Purdy) Burmeister, the third of three boys. He passed away on November 17, 2024, at almost 67 years of age. Dennis graduated from Woodbine High School in 1976 and lived most of his life in the Woodbine, Iowa, area. 

Dennis was a man of many interests and talents and worked a variety of jobs during his lifetime. He worked as a farm hand, highway construction worker, carpenter, farmer, and truck driver. 

When Dennis’s father passed away in 1982, Dennis stepped up and took over the responsibility of operating the family farm. He spent the next 42 years dedicated to preserving and farming that land. He was passionate about farming and looked forward to each changing season on the farm. He truly enjoyed talking about farming and interacting with other farmers in the area. He also really enjoyed trucking for the Oliver family and loved playing a part in their family farming operation.

Dennis was passionate not only about farming, but also about fishing, hunting, and family. He loved spending time with close friends and family and gave each one an unforgettable fishing experience with him. He also enjoyed gardening, dogs, playing cards, and going to drag races. He had a yearly Memorial Day tradition of going to the drag races in Topeka, Kansas, with two of his nephews. He spent many of his days hunting and fishing with family and friends. 

If you knew Dennis, he would do anything that he could to help you. He truly loved his niece and nephews, great nieces and nephews, and he was fiercely protective of them. Each one was truly important to him and he would go above and beyond if they needed him in any way. He was a great brother, brother-in-law, friend, cousin, and uncle, always doing something for or with family and friends. 

Dennis often thought of others before his own comfort, and he planned ahead for his legacy and final act of heroism; to donate his organs for transplant and research so that others may live through his death. This honorable final act will undoubtably create a ripple effect in the world that he leaves behind. 

Dennis was preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by two brothers, Dave (Marsha) Burmeister and Duane (Karen) Burmeister; one niece, Michelle (Cody) Lillard; six nephews, Eric (Sarah) Burmeister, Greg Burmeister, Ryan (Samantha) Burmeister, David (Karly) Burmeister, Michael (Kaleigh) Burmeister and Ben (Mary) Michael; great nieces, Rowan, Emersyn, Luna, Nova, Elizabeth and Maria; great nephews Elliott, Nicky, Layton and Boden; and many other relatives and friends. 

The family would like to invite those who knew Dennis to join them for a very casual memorial in celebration and remembrance of his life and legacy. This event will be held on Sunday, November 24, 2024, at 2:00 p.m. at the Woodbine Golf Course. There will be a time to share memories and stories about Dennis, followed by eating, laughing, and sharing more memories and stories about Dennis. The family asks that attendees feel free to wear whatever you would wear to “hang out” with Dennis. Weather permitting, this event will conclude with his family giving Dennis a final tractor ride back to his farm.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be given to a charitable organization that supports one of Dennis’s passions that you shared with him. Suggested organizations are Farm Rescue (farmrescue.org), Hunter Nation (hunternation.org), Pheasants Forever (pheasantsforever.org), National Wild Turkey Foundation (your.nwtf.org), National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (nfwf.org), Harrison County Conservation Board, or an organ donation nonprofit such as Live On Nebraska (liveonnebraska.org), the organization that helped him fulfill his final compassionate wish.