Harold John Burre was born in Leavenworth, Kansas, on Feb. 26, 1933, and passed in San Angelo, Texas, on Dec. 14, 2020, due to complications from COVID-19 (stricken with silent hypoxia while tending to his outdoor plants).
His parents were John and Edna (Krekeler) Burre of Leavenworth, Kansas, with a family fruit-growing operation, particularly apples and peaches.
He was the first member of the family to be college-educated with him being commissioned into the United States Air Force upon graduation from Kansas State University in 1955. He completed his pilot training in 1956 at Webb AFB, Big Spring, Texas.
While finishing college, Harold married his high school sweetheart, Lila Lake, a week after first visiting San Angelo for the first time in 1954 while on an AFROTC excursion to Goodfellow AFB when it was still a flying training base.
Harold retired as a major in 1975 after 20 years of service in the Air Force with Goodfellow being his last assignment after returning from Iraklion AB, Crete, Greece, with travels around the country and world in that career.
Under the mentorship of Steve Stewart, Harold began a long and successful career as a realtor and property manager in San Angelo where he was honored to serve the needs of numerous people and welcoming newcomers to San Angelo, a career he pursued well into his 80s.
As a boy growing up in Kansas, Harold achieved the rank of Eagle Scout, and later saw his son, Steve, reach that same goal and assisted Scoutmaster J.T. Henderson (Troop 1 in San Angelo) in taking Scouts on adventures such as canoe trips in Canada and floating down the Rio Grande in Big Bend on rafts.
Harold and Lila traveled the country extensively in their motor home, accompanied by their silky terrier companions, and were able to visit all 50 states (many multiple times) and visit most of our beautiful national parks. Harold also enjoyed fishing excursions with his Kansas relatives to places such as Minnesota, Alaska and the Green River, Utah.
Preceding him in death were his parents, an older sister, Carol Lee Burre Orlowski (LHS Class of 1947), and son, Mark. Survivors include his wife of 66 years, Lila Burre, San Angelo, Texas, son, Steve Burre, and daughter-in-law, Sheryl Blaylock-Burre, Weatherford, Texas, cousins, David and Charlie Burre, as well as his two loving silky terriers, Willie and Annie.
The family thanks Shannon Medical Center for helping him put a heroic fight against this terrible disease that has affected so many over the past year.
A visitation honoring Harold’s life will be held at Harper Funeral Home on Tuesday, Dec. 29, 2020, from 5-7 p.m. A graveside service will be held at Lawnhaven Memorial Gardens on Wednesday, Dec. 30, 2020, at 2 p.m.
Suggested recipient for donations is West Texas Boys Ranch.
Family and friends can share online condolences at www.harper-funeralhome.com
Together ♥♥♥ Forever
After high school Lila received her RN in nursing from St Luke’s school in Kansas City, She married her high school sweetheart Harold Burre a week after he first visited San Angelo for the first time in 1954 while on an AFROTC excursion to Goodfellow AFB when it was still a flying training base. Harold spent one more year completing his undergraduate degree from Kansas State before being commissioned into the Air Force in 1955.
As a military wife, Lila travelled across the country and the world (with assignment in Crete, Greece being her favorite experience) and later continued that sense of adventure with her husband by travelling the country extensively in their motorhomes, accompanied by their silky terrier companions, and was able to visit all 50 states (many multiple times) and visit most all of our beautiful National Parks.
Lila worked in various military hospitals part time as a nurse and when coming to San Angelo in 1969, started work as an OB Nurse with Dr. Sterling Gillis, assisting him in bringing many newborns into the world. After her nursing career was over, Lila continued with another interest of hers by opening Carousel Needlepoint in the Stadium Park Shopping center and operating that store for nearly 15 years.
Preceding her in death were her parents, son Mark and her husband Harold. Survivors include son Steve Burre and daughter-in-law Sheryl Blaylock-Burre of Weatherford, TX, distant cousins in Manning, Iowa as well as her two loving silky terriers Willie and Annie (who will now be cared for by son Steve).
The family thanks Dianne Bass caregivers and Kindred Hospice nurses for making it possible for Lila to remain in the San Angelo home she and Harold built in 1975 and loved so much. Visitation honoring Lila’s life is scheduled Jan 13 from 5-7pm at Harper Funeral Home in San Angelo, followed by a brief graveside service at 2pm on Jan 14 at Lawnhaven Memorial Gardens.
Suggested recipient for memorial donations: West Texas Boys Ranch.
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