Lawrence D. Burger

LAWRENCE D. BURGER

Larry was born December 13, 1923, in Lilliwaup, Washington. He is survived by his wife Muriel, son David and his fiancée Karen, brother Gerald and sister Louise Okonek and several nephews and nieces.

Larry grew up fishing, hunting, camping and logging. In June 1943, Larry began basic training in the Army. His specialty training was with the 796th Combat Engineer Battalion constructing piers, landing strips, bridges, and roads in the Philippines and New Guinea, where is obtained the rank of Sergeant, Tec 4.

In June 1945, he was injured by a bulldozer blade that left him paralyzed. After successful surgery, he was transferred to Birmingham Hospital in the San Fernando Valley, where he met Muriel Merwin, a VA nurse. They later married in December 1951 and David, their only son, was born in October 1956. They settled in Granada Hills in order to be close to VA facilities at Sepulveda and Long Beach VA hospital. Muriel continues to reside in their home with 24- hour care.

After being Honorably Discharged in June 1946, Larry went to work helping to build the General Motors plant in Van Nuys, CA, where he became employee #46 and retired after 34 years of service.

Despite his spinal cord injury, he was always active designing and building something in his workshop. He continued to love camping, fishing and hunting with the family and especially with his son David.

He remained positive throughout his life and was a true inspiration to all that knew him.
We celebrated his 93rd birthday 2 weeks before he passed away peacefully December 26, 2016, at the Veterans Administration Community Living Center in West Los Angeles, California where he had resided the past two months.

Larry will be buried at the Riverside National Cemetery in Riverside, California.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made to:

Paralyzed Veterans of American - California Chapter
5901 E. 7th St., Building 150, Room R-204
Long Beach, CA 90827
(562) 826-5713
www.PVACaliforniaChapter.org

Arrangements under the direction of Bastian & Perrott, Oswald Mortuary, Northridge, CA.