Mark Alan Burmeister

Mark Alan Burmeister Sunrise November 2, 1958 Sunset April 23, 2012 Mark Alan Burmeister of Tipton, formerly of Lost Nation, passed away peacefully at the home of his parents, Virgil and Haidi Burmeister of Lost Nation, he was 53. A Mass in celebration of his life will be held on Friday, April 27, at 10:30 AM, at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Tipton. Visitation will be from 4-7 PM on Thursday at the Fry Funeral Home. Burial will be in the St. Mary's Cemetery, Tipton. Mark was born to Virgil and Haidi Burmeister on November 2, 1958 at Jackson County Public Hospital in Maquoketa. He attended and graduated from Lost Nation Community School where he participated in baseball and basketball. Mark married Barbara Barnette on March 17, 1984, they later divorced. They had three children, Brandon of Tipton, Rachel and Ryan of Davenport. Mark worked for the River Valley Co-op in Lost Nation and then for the Cedar County Co-op in Tipton for 15 years until having to leave employment because of ill health. Mark moved to Tipton eight years ago which he called home. He belonged to Tipton Fire Department and St. Mary's Catholic Church. Mark is survived by his three children, his parents, three grandchildren who were the loves of his life; Skylar & Natalie Burmeister & Sadi Kellenberger, Skylar's mother Yvette Larson, former wife Barbara Barnette, siblings; Scott (Cris) Burmeister of Oxford Jct., Paul Burmeister of Lost Nation, Phillip (Laurie) Burmeister of DeWitt, Carolyn (Stuart) Proesch of Lake Havasu City, AZ, Julie (Tom) Pleiman of Maineville, OH, Aunt Marcella Gustafson of Clinton, Aunt Rosie Miller Bennett of Marion, cousins, nieces and nephews. There's a saying "It isn't how many years you live, it's how you live those years." Mark worked hard, respected others, enjoyed being on the fire department, helping others and had faith in his Lord. The family wishes to thank Dr. Thomas Carlisle, his nurses, Cynthia West, LISW of University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics & the Jackson County Hospice of Maquoketa for all their good care, Father Greg Steckel and Father Hitch for their prayers and visits, his firemen friends who showed concern for his health which lead to the discovery of his cancerous brain tumor, fellow employees at Cedar County Co-op for their support and understanding. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to St. Mary's Catholic Church or the Tipton Fire Department. Mark was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, Leo & Sarah Burmeister, maternal grandparents, Alfred & Frida Von Essens, and three uncles.