Carl Burgener, a long-time resident of Estes Park, Colorado, died peacefully on August 26, 2018 at the age of 102. He was still living at home and remained fiercely self-sufficient under the watchful eye of his daughter, Carolyn Lavallee.

Attracted by the mountains his family had come to love on summer vacations, Carl moved west from flat-land Illinois in 1973 as a freshly-minted retiree seeking a change of pace and a change of scenery. In Estes Park he and Helen, his wife of 67 years, built a new home that would remain his residence for 45 years.

Carl's life was always defined by a strong work ethic, so a leisurely retirement was never in the cards. Many in Estes Park knew him by his avocation as a piano tuner, a skill he practiced well into his nineties, keeping pianos in family households, the Stanley Hotel and the YMCA in perfect pitch.

Both Carl and Helen were active in their church, Presbyterian Community Church of the Rockies (PCCR), and supported, with their time and resources, a variety of volunteer, environmental and charitable organizations.

Born the youngest of five children on March 23, 1916, son of William A. and Nettie (Sager) Burgener, Carl grew up on a small family farm near Olney, Illinois. He was raised by his older sister after his mother perished in an influenza epidemic. An excellent student, academic pursuits gradually supplanted farming as a career, and Carl was the first in his family to attend college. At Illinois Wesleyan University, he distinguished himself academically, earned a degree in Physics and attracted the attention of his future wife.

In 1939 he began his teaching career while pursuing a Master's degree at Columbia Teacher's College in New York City. In 1942 Carl and Helen married before he entered WWII as a naval aircraft navigator and instructor. Following the war Carl took a position in suburban Chicago as a high school physics teacher that would define his life for the next 26 years. He was a favorite among his students and highly regarded by his colleagues. In addition to physics, he taught photography, served as head of the science department and was active in the teachers' union. In 1957 Carl was invited by the University of Illinois to participate in the development of an innovative new physics course for high school students. He enthusiastically accepted the challenge and spent nights and weekends designing and fabricating the novel lab equipment that would be required for the new curriculum. Carl was always dedicated to increasing his knowledge and spent many summers honing his teaching skills at institutes sponsored by DePaul University, Case Western Reserve University and the University of Connecticut. Among his many talented students were two who would later be awarded Nobel prizes.

In addition to his daughter Carolyn, he is survived by his son Arnold Burgener and daughter-in-law Melinda; grandchildren Jeff, Greg and Jocelyn Lavallee; and four great grand children.

A memorial service was held at PCCR.  

Published in Estes Park Trail-Gazette (CO) - September 19, 2018