Jerome "Jerry" Edward Burger

Jerome Edward Burger, 89, was born on September 16, 1936, in Dayton, Ohio, and died on August 22, 2026, in Lansing, Michigan where he resided for the last several years of his life.

Jerry was married for twenty-nine years to the one and only love of his life, Barbara Ann (Davis) Burger, and was often lovingly referred to as “Yoda” by his 8 children, 18 grandchildren, 20 (and counting) great grandchildren and countless friends, who have noted that his passing has caused ‘a great disturbance in the Force’.

As a lifelong learner, Jerry pursued engineering with distinction. He earned a technical degree and bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Dayton, and a master’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Nebraska. (Heaven forbid we forget to mention his beloved Nebraska Cornhuskers!!!). Jerry was a Licensed Professional Engineer in Michigan, Ohio and Nebraska and his work included various engineering management positions. Most notably the GM Quad Four Engine Plant in Lansing, Michigan, where he loved to speed the test cars around the Milford Proving Grounds track, and tortured crash test dummies at the Honda Engine Plant in Anna, Ohio, from where he retired after a long career. He also served for a time as Chairman of the ASME Cincinnati section, the Society of Automotive Engineers and the American Management Association.

For enjoyment, beginning at the young age of fifteen and continuing through his death, Jerry was an active radio amateur leader in Amateur Radio Emergency Services (ARES), where he achieved Extra Class proficiency. He would proudly recall his role in rescues from the great Ohio river flooding event of 1952; and hearing “CQ, CQ, CQ, this is AB8AU”, or dots and dashes of Morse code could be heard nightly coming from the basement of the Burger household. Jerry was a private pilot that delighted in flying small Cessna aircraft to visit his friends, was self-taught in sailing and sextant navigation, and he loved Meteorology, instilling a fascination for storm chasing in all his children. Jerry also designed and built the homes he lived in, in Indiana, Ohio and in Clare County, Michigan on Big Lake Norway, where he lived for over twenty years after retiring.

Jerry devoted his life to his faith and actively participated in church committees throughout his life. Remarkably, among other things, he cherished his thirty-years as a member of Saint Gerard’s choir and was proud to be selected to St. Gerard’s Parish Council’s Spiritual Development Committee. After retiring to Clare, he happily became the friendly, designated driver to Sunday mass transporting his carload of neighbors that could no longer drive.

Committed to his community, Jerry served as an advisor and lifelong supporter of Junior Achievement and other student community programs and was a member of several booster clubs including the Lake George Boosters Club. In lighter moments…Jerry was constantly defending his title as a two-time Red Ribbon winner in the Annual Neighborhood Chili Cook-off and supported the Children’s Sidney Ballet Company appearing in white tights and “plie”-ing in several of their community, professional plays. “It was for the kids,” he would say.

Responsibilities of citizenship guided Jerry to serve in numerous roles within local politics for both Clare County and Lansing, Michigan. For a time, he carried the elected office of County Commissioner, sat on eleven County Commission Review Boards, was on township Planning Commissions and served as Secretary of the Freeman Township Board of Appeals. He received Master Citizen Planner Certification and earned Michigan Township Governance Academy (TGA) Certification. Jerry was a graduate of Clare County Leadership Institute and served actively on the Leadership Institute Board in his community. At one point, in recognition of his dedication in civil service, Jerry received the honor of “Republican of the Year” from the Clare County Republicans.

Jerry is preceded in death by his parents, Anna Olivia and Herman William Burger, his wife Barbara Ann, son Jerome Edward Burger II, and grandsons Jerod Burger, Jerome Edward Burger III and Joseph E. Martinez. He is survived by daughters Anne Marie (Raymond) Arkin, Theresa (Enrique) Martinez, Suzanne Burger and Regina (Robert) Hipple, sons Matthew Burger, Mark (Dina) Burger, Steven Burger, and many beloved grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Jerome (Yoda) Burger will be remembered with respect for a life shaped by devotion to God and his sense of responsibility that left a lasting mark on his family, friends and community. He will be greatly missed.