Charles Bourger Sr.

Charles "Charlie" Edwin Bourger Sr, age 82, passed away peacefully with family by his side in Las Cruces on November, 27, 2013. He is survived by his loving wife Stella M. Bourger, his sister Helen Rodriquez, daughter Kathy Bourger, husband Monty, three sons; Charles E. Bourger Jr, David A. Bourger wife Tamara and Fred H. Bourger. His ten grandchildren; Renee Vielma, Veronica Baca, Jarrad Bourger, Ashely Taylor, Tyler Bourger, Marlene Diaz, Chris Bourger, Steven Bourger, Hillary Bourger, and Danielle Bourger. His eight great grandchildren; Destiny Vielma, Mathew Vielma, Domineek Baca, John Bourger Andrew Diaz, Christian Diaz, Emily Diaz, Aiden Bourger. Charlie was preceded in death by his parents Frederick and Josephine Bourger, his older brother Frederick H. Bourger, grandchild Alina Marie Bourger and daughter in law Dorene J. Bourger. Born in Fairfield, Connecticut Charlie met his wife of 62 years, while enlisted with the US Army in the 10th Mountain Division, at a Catholic Daughters of America dance held at WSMR. He served with the Army as sharpshooter and as military policemen in Guam and Japan during the Korean War. Soon after they were married and resided in Fairfield, Connecticut then Albuquerque, NM and eventually made their way back to Las Cruces, NM where they made their home in the early 60's. Once out of the Army, Charlie was trained in the plumbing profession where he worked for several plumbing businesses in Las Cruces and then worked for the City of Las Cruces in the traffic division. He continued working with various plumbing and maintenance companies until retirement with his wife in the early 90s. While retired he loved being with his family and enjoyed traveling, woodworking, building scale model boats, planes and various other remote controlled toys. There was nothing he couldn't do and had a love for tinkering, and a talent for fixing and applying problem solving with everything the family would challenge him with or anything that his wife would have him repair. Charlie was known as a strong and supportive husband and dad with a love for socializing with everyone he met. Charlie will be greatly missed and remembered most for his genuine smile and warmth for his family and always willing to provide a helping hand to all. Funeral services will be held on Wednesday December 4, 2013 at 12 pm at St Genevieve Roman Catholic Church. Burial will follow at the St Joseph's Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you consider making a donation in Charles E Bourger Sr name to the Alzheimer's Association of New Mexico.