Donald Robert Burgart

Donald R. Burgart, age 64, of Nashua, IA, passed away on Thursday, July 11, 2019 at Allen Memorial Hospital in Waterloo, IA. A celebration of life visitation will be held on Friday, July 19, 2019 from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm at the Ionia Funeral Home in Ionia, IA. Visitation will continue at the church on hour prior to the service on Saturday. A Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be on Satuday, July 20, 2019 at 10:00 am at St. Boniface Catholic Church in Ionia. The family has established a memorial fund in honor of Don. Friends may express their condolences to Don's family at www.conway-markhamfh.com. For information please call 641-394-4331 or 641-394-3635. Don was born on February 26, 1955, in New Hampton, Iowa, to Elmer and Delores (Gilbert) Burgart. Six months later, his mother died, and Don and his five older siblings were raised by their maternal grandmother, Evelyn C. Gilbert, in Ionia, Iowa. Don graduated from New Hampton High School in 1973. After working for the Ionia Elevator, Don attended North Iowa Area Community College in Mason City, Iowa, where he earned a degree in mechanical design. His next employer was Hydrotile in Nashua, Iowa. After that, Don moved to Houston, Texas, where he worked for the Ransome Company in mechanical design. When the company was purchased by Koike Aronson, Don moved to Buffalo, New York. As product manager for Koike, Don traveled extensively: Russia, Asia, South America, Europe, and the Middle East. Shortly after retirement, Don moved from Delevan, New York, to Nashua, in order to be closer to family. Throughout his life, Don was a sports fan, enjoying golf as both participant and viewer (Go, Tiger!). He was a particularly avid supporter of the Twins and the Vikings. Despite all of the challenges that Don faced in dealing with diabetes, Don participated enthusiastically in the lives of his family and friends, always ready for a good game of euchre or to host family gatherings. He remained ever optimistic, certain that the next treatment would restore him to better health. Don was gentle, humble (except when playing cards), and easy to love. Survivors include two brothers, John (Rebecca) Burgart, of Savage, MN; and Gary (Steve Brooker) Burgart, of Oxford, NC; two sisters, Sharon Burgart, of Nashua, IA; and Janice (Dexter) Brahn, of Ionia; aunts Evelyn M. Gilbert, of New Hampton, IA; and Lavonne Shatek, of Elma, IA; and numerous nieces, nephews, grand nieces and nephews, and cousins. Don was preceded in death by his parents and his sister Mary McKenzie, by nephew Tim Burgart, and by uncles and aunts who were an important part of Don’s life.