Robert Burgard

Robert A. Burgard, 78, of Toledo, passed away Thursday, February 8, 2007 in his home. Born in Erie, Michigan to Linus and Margaret (Cullen) Burgard, Bob was the youngest of five children. He graduated from Central Catholic High School and joined the U.S. Marines at the age of 17. In May of 1947 he married Joanne Kaszynski, with whom he had nine children. He also had a son Michael and a step-daughter Cindi from his second marriage. Bob graduated from the fourteenth class of the Toledo Police Academy on January 12, 1957. He was Captain of the Toledo Police Revolvers Team along with fellow officers Robert Pitzen, James Moore, Sgt, Ed Sobczak, Leland Stipes and Fred Freer. Along with his fellow team members, Dick Studyvin Captain, Larry Przeslawski, Bill Arend, Fred Neipp, Jerry Langenderfer, Frank Martin, and Dan Kasza, they defeated the Columbus Team and former National Champions at the Fraternal Order of Police pistol shoot held in Flint Michigan in 1967. That same year Bob received an award for "Service Above and Beyond the Call of Duty" for rescuing an elderly couple from their burning home after noticing the blaze while driving home from work at 4:00 a.m. at the end of his shift. Bob was proud of his daughter, retired Toledo Police Officer, Pat Pitzen, as well as his grandson, Bowling Green Police Officer, Justin Tucholski, for sharing his love of police work. He retired from the Police Department with the rank of Sergeant in 1975 due to heart problems. Bob then moved to Las Vegas, Nevada where he met and married his wife Jere.

Jere battled cancer for many years before they moved to Leesburg, Florida in 2002. They remained there until Jere's death in 2005. Bob then returned to the Toledo area with his son Michael and his faithful "Canine" friend, Rebel. Here he was a 45 year member of the Fraternal Order of Police, as well as the Retired Toledo Police Officers Assn., American Legion Post #512, VFW Post # 606, Fraternal Order of Eagles #197 and St Patrick's Historical Church. He also enjoyed spending time with his cousins, Sr. Mary Ross, Sr. Mary Kent, Sr. Mary Dale and Sr. Mary Marc, working on their "Family Tree".

Bob was preceded in death by his parents, Linus and Margaret; brothers, Frederick; Madison and Linus; sister, Marie (Roland) Whitmill and his wife Jeremie Owen Burgard. Also preceding him in death was his first wife, Joanne (Kaszynski) Burgard; daughters, Marie Martin and Catherine Gilbert.

Surviving are his children, Terry Burgard; Patricia (Robert) Pitzen; Robert L. Burgard; Shirley (fiancé, Dan Hill) Tucholski; Thomas Burgard; Gregory Burgard; Janice (Jeffrey) Moore; Michael (fiancé, LeAnn) Burgard, and Cindi (Mick) Petersen; 18 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.

The family will receive guests Monday from 2-8:00 p.m. at the Newcomer Funeral Home, 4150 W. Laskey Rd (419 473-0300). Funeral Services will begin Tuesday at 9:00 a.m. at the funeral home followed by a Mass of Resurrection at 10:00 am at St. Francis DeSales Church, 501 Cherry Street.

Expressions of sympathy may be made at www.NewcomerFamily.com

A GRAIN OF WHEAT
(by Jeremie Owen Burgard)

He was Himself the grain of wheat
The Cross- the death He was to die
Crushed into bread that we might eat
His living flesh and never die
His own the life he was to give
His fruit, the bread by which we live

Another grain of wheat must die
If fruitful it will ever be
That other grain of wheat is I
The cross must crush itself in me
That in my soul this bread may live
and through me, life to others give.


HANG IT ON THE CROSS

If you have a secret sorrow,
a burden or a loss
An aching need for healing....
Hang it on The Cross
Every obstacle to faith
or doubt you come across
Every prayer unanswered....
Hang it on The Cross
For Christ has borne
our brokenness
and dearly paid the cost
To turn our trials to triumph....
Hanging it on The Cross.
(author Unknown)