Douglas O. Burmeister

Born in Detroit, Michigan on August 10, 1946, Douglas Owen Burmeister was the oldest of three sons to Pat and Lewis Burmeister. Lewis, a hardworking man in the car manufacturing industry and later a pilot for the Army Air Corps, fought in WWII. Pat was a no-nonsense, intelligent woman who kept all her boys in line and taught them to be responsible and respectable. As a young boy Doug applied himself to all his studies and was always the top of his class which would continue throughout his life. He was a great hockey player and his very first job was at an ice rink which would allow him to perfect his skating skills. Doug attended Henry Ford High School in Detroit and soon after he graduated the family moved into a beautiful home in sunny Fullerton, California where Lewis still resides. Doug started his five year Bachelor of Science degree in Aerospace Engineering at California Polytechnic Pomona in the year of 1964 immediately after graduating from high school. While attending Cal Poly he lived with a few friends off campus. One night his roommate, who was involved in a fraternity, had a frat party and this is where he met the love of his life, Susan Sharmaine Clemmer whom attended Mount San Antonio College for an AA degree. The happy couple met in March of 1968 and married shortly after they both graduated on June 28, 1969. After attaining his BS, Doug planned on working with a large aerospace engineering company but instead was drafted into the service where he decided to enter the United States Air Force. He was placed as a pilot and later became Captain. Doug traveled all over the world. He brought back beautiful pieces of art one of his favorites being an alabaster plant stand from Spain. Sue followed Doug all over the United States and ended up in Goldsboro, North Carolina when Doug was shipped off to fight in the Vietnam War. Doug's choice of plane in the air force happens to speak a lot about his character. He didn't want to have the weight of that of a fighter pilot on his shoulders and so he chose to fly the KC-135. When Doug returned from Vietnam he and his wife welcomed their first born child, David Owen Burmeister. Three years later their only other child, Jennifer Leigh Burmeister, was born. Shortly after Jennifer was born the family moved to Corona, California and they began a new life outside of the Air Force. Doug began working for his Grandfather's company, WP Dawson Inc., and this would be his last job until retiring. In California Doug taught his children every sport he possibly could with the help of his wife. The family's favorite was boating on Colorado River and snow skiing on Mammoth Mountain. Doug excelled in everything and there wasn't anything that he did not know. He was a man of great knowledge and intelligence. He never met a stranger, loved conversation and would often take the opposing side just for the sake of the great insight of others. Doug was a highly respectable and respected man who treated all with such kindness. Although Doug had many accomplishments and talents to speak of, he very rarely spoke of himself. Doug was like no other man, he put all others needs before his own. He was very gracious, a great listener and overall a remarkable man. He loved to make people happy especially his family. Doug's compassion for life and wisdom was truly inspiring. There are no words that could ever sum up the life of this man and how amazing Doug was as a husband, father, American, and friend. No words will ever express the marvelous, Douglas Owen Burmeister. To know him was to love him. His family and friends will never forget his kind smile and infectious laugh. He will always be tremendously missed and forever loved by his family. In Leiu of flowers the family ask that a donation be made to the City of Hope - Duarte in Douglas Burmeisters name Phone: ‭(626) 256-4673 E-mail Service Riverside National Cemetery Staging Area #3 Thursday 11/15, 10:30 am Cemetery Riverside National Cemetery 22495 Van Buren Blvd Riverside, CA 92518 Reception Location Not Available Thursday 11/15 Please join the family for at the Reception to celebrate the life of Douglas Located at: 6730 Rycroft Dr. Riverside, CA 92506 Location Not Available Thursday 11/15, 12:30 pm