Clayton E. Burgardt

Clayton was born May 14, 1927 in Britt, IA to the late Nicholas and Yardie ‘Anderson’ Burgardt. He grew up on a farm near Britt, IA and graduated from Britt High School in 1945. Clayton was united in marriage to Dorothy A. Nuehring on June 18, 1949 at First Lutheran Church in Britt, IA. The couple lived in Kansas City, KS where Clayton was employed at General Motors. In March, 1952, the couple moved to Little Falls, MN where Clayton owned and operated a Shell Gas Station downtown. Shortly after, he purchased a school bus and began Burgardt Bus Service. Clayton also helped City Sanitary driving a garbage route. In Jan. 1961, he purchased the City Sanitary business which he operated until selling it to his sons in 1980. He sold Burgardt Bus Service in 1996 but continued driving bus until retiring in 2007. Clayton was very active in Scouting. He served as Scout Master for Troop #65 for over 20 years and earned the Silver Beaver Award for his service. He was also very civic minded and served as President of the Little Falls Senior Center Board; served as a Little Falls Police Reserve officer; served on the Lutheran Home Care Center Board that built the facility in 1961 and remained on the Board for many years. Clayton enjoyed woodworking, working with stain glass, polishing agates to make jewelry, trap shooting, canoeing, camping and archery. He was a faithful member of Zion Lutheran Church in Little Falls, serving on the church council, Sunday School teacher and usher. Clayton is survived by his beloved wife of 63 years, Dorothy; sons, Donald (Susan) Burgardt of Sioux Falls, SD; Gary (Beth) Burgardt of Little Falls, MN; Gregg (Laurie) Burgardt of Little Falls, MN; Brian (Kathy) Burgardt of Little Falls, MN; Curtis Burgardt of Sauk Rapids, MN; daughters, Bonnie (Saia) Kavapalu of South St. Paul, MN and Cheryl Burgardt of South St. Paul, MN; brothers, Connie (Norma) Burgardt of Britt IA and John (Imogene) Burgardt of Britt, IA; 16 grandchildren and several great-grandchildren. Clayton was preceded in death by his parents; daughter, Diane Burgardt; brother, Alvin Burgardt; sisters, Erlis Steven and Marilynn Glynn.

Tributes

Clayton E. Burgardt

May 14, 1927 - October 8, 2012