Dorothea Missouri Burgener

Dorothea Missouri Kern Burgener, 101, of Bridgman, MI passed away Thursday, April 12, 2018 at Woodland Terrace in Bridgman. Arrangements entrusted to Starks & Menchinger Chapel & Cremation Services 556-9450. Friends may leave condolences online for the family at www.starks-menchinger.com. Dorothea was born February 5, 1917 in Weissport, PA to Homer and Sylvia (Oswald) Kern. She earned a Bachelor’s degree in education from East Stroudsburg University and had a successful teaching career starting in a two-room school house in the mountains of Pennsylvania. Dorothea married the love of her life, Frank Robert Burgener, on June 26, 1943 in Palmerton, PA. Together they enjoyed 70 years of marriage, spending 7 of them in Trinidad and 31 in Florida. They were members of the First Presbyterian Church in Auburndale, FL and she was a member of The Order of The Eastern Star. Dorothea remained active all her life; reading her beloved mysteries, playing piano, card and board games with family and friends, sewing, crocheting, knitting, cross-stitching and crafting. She especially loved golf – achieving a hole-in-one at Poinciana Golf Course in FL. Some of her favorite times were spent with her grandchildren – especially during the holidays. Dorothea is survived by her son, Frank (Joyce) Burgener, Jr. of St. Joseph, MI; grandchildren, Christine Burgener of Jacksonville, FL, Lori Burgener of Cedar Hill, TN and Mark Burgener of Bloomington, IN and several loving nieces and nephews. She is preceded by her parents; husband, Frank; and sisters, Dama (Kern) Brobst, Grace (Kern) Ross and Jean (Kern) Andreas.