Rosalyn Burmeister Obituary

Rosalyn Elise Burmeister, age 85, died February 4, 2022 in Littleton, Colorado. She was born May 3, 1936 in Colby, KS to Byron Thaddeus and Erma Lenora (Baker) Rowell who lived in Russell Springs, KS where Byron was Logan County Attorney and Erma was a school teacher. She was reared in Wichita, KS where she attended grade school and Marshall Junior High School. After four years in Valley Center High School, KS she was graduated in 1954 as Class Valedictorian. In high school, she was the catcher for the girls' softball team, won a debate contest to her father's delight, was a cheer leader, and played clarinet in the marching band.

She married Louis Casimir Burmeister, son of Henry Louis and Olinda Marie (Besthorn) Burmeister, on June 14, 1959 in Wichita, KS. He survives in Littleton, Colorado. She is also survived by their two daughters: Elise Ellen (Neil Getz) Burmeister Getz and granddaughters Stella Amanda Getz and Amalie Claire Getz of Berkeley, California; Amanda Rosalyn (Travis Lippert) Burmeister and grandson Pierce Henry Lippert of Littleton, Colorado. Other survivors are her brother Roger Max (Judith) Rowell of Madison, Wisconsin whose children are Mark Allan (Jodi Davis) Rowell of Canton, Georgia, Michael Lance (Yvonne Brown) Rowell of Portland, Oregon, and Jessica Sage Celimene-Rowell of Chicago, Illinois, sister-in-law Ellen Olinda Burmeister of Littleton, Colorado, and brother-in-law Henry Philip (Carolyn) Burmeister of Holyrood, Kansas whose children are Philip Alan (Bernice Sorenson) Burmeister of Wilsonville, Alabama and Rebecca Ruth (Anthony) Guagliardo of Gurnee, Illinois. Her great joy was time with her family. Rosalyn baked exceptionally good pies, a skill developed in consultation with her mother-in-law, the best being from sour-cherry trees near the garden. Sewing was also an accomplishment.

Rosalyn Burmeister earned a B. S. in Sociology and Education in 1958 at Kansas State University where she met Louis and was a member of the Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority and was a member of Mortarboard honorary fraternity. She taught social studies in Manhattan High School, Manhattan, KS in 1958-1959, was a Director for the Camp Fire Girls in Albuquerque, NM in 1959-1962, taught English and social studies and coached speech and debate teams at Battle Ground High School, Battle Ground, IN in 1964-1965. In Lawrence, KS in the 1970-1986 period she taught grade-school and high-school Sunday school classes for Plymouth Congregational Church UCC and wrote and produced a play with a 6th-grade class. She was a volunteer teacher's aide and homeroom mother in the Cordley, Hillcrest, and Sunset Hill Grade Schools. She was a Girl Scout Leader for 4th-6th grades for 6 years in the course of which she made costumes and produced the operetta Daisy for the public. Her interest in music led to her having an important part in both daughters achieving proficiency on the piano. In 1988 she trained at the University of California to be a Stephen Minister Leader for Plymouth Church and was the Parish Visitor in the 1989-1993 period. In 1992-1993 she completed a program of study to be a Commissioned Minister of Parish Visiting at the Berkeley School of Religion, Berkeley, CA and the St. Paul School of Religion, Kansas City, MO; on February 6, 1994 she assumed that position for Plymouth Church, a position held until 2000. In addition to parish visiting, she taught 9th grade confirmation class, performed weddings, officiated at funerals, counseled mentally and physically handicapped children at UCC Camp White, and took courses at Menningers, Topeka, KS concerning psychological disorders. In Lawrence, KS she was a sales clerk for Munchers Bakery (some said it was a donut ministry) in 1989-1994, a lobby hostess for McDonalds in 1994-1997, managed and performed sales duties at Lamars Donuts (some said it was also a donut ministry; received a Certificate of Appreciation from Haskell Indian Nations University in 1999) in 1996-2000, and was a Learning Consultant for the Boys and Girls Club in which she operated an after-school study hall in 2000-2001 (received the US Department of Education 2000 John Stanford Education Heros Award Dec. 14, 2000). In retirement she authored many short stories, engagingly illustrated by cutouts from magazines, for her young grandchildren.

Services will be held at a later date. The family suggests contributions to the Alzheimer's Association, 225 N. Michigan Avenue, FL 17, Chicago, IL 60601 or other charity of choice.