Forrest Alden Burg

Forrest Alden Burg, 93, of St. Joseph, passed away Sunday, January 31, 2010 at Caretel Inns of Lakeland in St. Joseph. A Celebration of Life Service will be held 11:30 A.M. Thursday at Starks & Menchinger Family Funeral Home, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph with Rev. Dan Colthorp officiating. Burial will follow at Riverview Cemetery in St. Joseph, with military rites conducted by Coloma American Legion Post #362, VFW Post #1137 of Benton Harbor, & VFW Post #6803 of Watervliet. Friends may call Thursday from 10:30 AM to 11:30 A.M. at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to First United Methodist Church, St. Joseph or St. Joseph-Lincoln Senior Center. Those wishing to sign the Memory Book online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com. Mr. Burg was born June 20, 1916 in Riverside, Michigan to Lewis H. & Myrtle M. (Post) Burg. He graduated in 1934 from Benton Harbor High School. Forrest served his country in the United States Marine Corp. during WWII in China and the Pacific Theater, being discharged honorably with the rank of Sergeant. Following the war, he enrolled at the Chicago Art Institute to follow his interest in art. Forrest enjoyed painting and woodworking. On July 3, 1954, he married the former Letha I. Kellogg in South Bend, Indiana. Forrest was employed at Ridge & Kramer Auto Parts and Beaudette Motor Service before taking a job in the maintenance department of St. Joseph Public Schools, from where he retired after many years of service. He enjoyed the time he spent along Lake Michigan and the time spent at McDonald's in St. Joseph visiting and drinking coffee with his many friends. Mr. Burg is survived by two nephews-Gerald B. (Pam) Burg of Adrian, MI, Jon Burg of Benton Harbor; two great nieces-Angie Wright of South Carolina and Erin Burg of Chicago; two great nephews-Jason Burg of Atlanta, GA and Kevin Burg of Munising; special cousins Bev (Dave) Gould of Benton Harbor, Pat (Arnie) Weaver of St. Joseph; numerous other cousins; and acquaintances Sharon (Dick) Clark of Indianapolis, IN. He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Letha on January 13, 2000, by two brothers-Charles & Gerald Burg, and by a niece Judith Burg.