Philip A. Burmeister

Philip Alvin Burmeister, 78, of Mount Ayr, passed away Sept. 26, 2022. Visitation will be held from 6-8 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 29 at Armstrong Funeral Home in Mount Ayr from. Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday, Sept. 30 at Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church in Mount Ayr. Burial, with military honors, will follow in Rose Hill Cemetery.

All memorial proceeds will go toward a to be determined scholarship fund for a graduating senior of Mount Ayr Community Schools.

Phil was born Nov. 14, 1943, the son of Harry and Mena (Thogersen) Burmeister in Harlan, Iowa. He attended school in Harlan and graduated from high school in 1962. Phil earned a degree in political science and sociology from Northwest Missouri State University. Phil would eventually go on to earn his master’s in education from Central Missouri State University.

Phil met his soon-to-be wife Marie in 1968 while teaching at Mount Ayr. It was during this time that Phil went overseas to serve his country in the Army with the 101st Airborne as a chaplain’s assistant during Vietnam. Upon his return in 1970, Phil and Marie were married and began their young lives together in Ridgeway, Missouri, before ultimately returning to Mount. Ayr in 1976, when Phil earned the superintendency at Mount Ayr.

Phil would spend the rest of his professional career at Mount Ayr Community Schools, forever changing the landscape of the public education community within Ringgold County and being recognized as a leader throughout the state amongst his colleagues. MACHS as we know it would not be what it is without the work of Phil.

Phil was involved in numerous community events associated with Mount Ayr Community Schools and Lions Club, helping establish the The Ramsey Farm at Lesanville and of course, playing many, many, games of bridge with his wife Marie, friends and brothers in Harlan. In Phil’s later years he enjoyed visiting his sons in Maine and Colorado to see his beloved grandchildren Dylan and Owen, and tagging along with any adventure that his boys could bring him along on. As much as anything, Phil enjoyed and had a tremendous appreciation for his family including numerous nephews and nieces, his many brothers, lone sister Janet and his boys and their respective families.

Phil is preceded in death by his lovely wife Marie (Euritt) Burmeister; parents Mena and Harry Burmeister; brother in-law Dan Roe; sister-in-law Sally (James) Burmeister, sister Janet (Burmeister) Gos and brothers Jon, Richard and Robert Burmeister.

Phil is survived by his loving sons, Jeffrey (Sonya) and Jeremy (Lyndsey), granddaughter Dylan, grandson Owen, sister-in-law Marla Kay, along with numerous nephews, nieces and many other family members.