Paul L. Burman

Paul L. Burman, 95, of Wakefield, Nebraska died on Wednesday, March 13, 2013 at Providence Medical Center in Wayne, Nebraska.Funeral services for Paul will be held on Saturday, March 16, 2013 at 2:00 P.M. at Salem Lutheran Church in Wakefield; Pastor Darwin Garton will be officiating. The visitation will be held on Friday from 3:00 until 7:00 P.M. at the Bressler – Munderloh – Smith Funeral Home in Wakefield. Burial will be in the Wakefield Cemetery. Military Rites will be presented by the Wakefield VFW Post #81. Paul was born in Omaha, Nebraska on March 21, 1917, the son of Edwin and Jevannah (Swanson) Burman. He was baptized in Salem Lutheran Church on May 12, 1917 and later confirmed on May 17, 1931. Paul was a lifelong member of Salem Lutheran Church, where he served as Sunday School secretary, a church council member and for 23 years as an usher. Paul attended Wakefield Public School graduating in 1935. He attended Wayne State College for 3 ½ years. He volunteered for military duty and was inducted into the United States Army in 1941. Along with his father, Paul started Burman’s dairy in 1935 as a producer and processor of Grade A Dairy products “Golden Jersey” milk for a period of 31 years until 1966, where he served the communities of Wakefield and Wayne. Paul served as a Wakefield Weather Observer for many years beginning in 1960. During this time he was presented many awards for his weather reporting both locally and nationally. He also gave weekly weather reports to the Wakefield Republican for several years. Paul served 9 years on the Wakefield Hospital and Health Care Board acting as president for 8 years. He was also president of Wakefield Commercial Club, president of the Housing Board, Secretary of the nursing home steering committee and a 4-H farm youth leader. Paul owned five breeds of saddle horses and three breeds of draft horses. He was a member of the international Arabian Horse Association, and presented horses in shows in South Dakota, Minnesota, Nebraska, Iowa, Colorado and Missouri. His love for horses was continuous from childhood for the rest of his life. Members of the Burman family have lived continuously in the City of Wakefield, and the Wakefield Community since 1881. Paul is survived by many close friends. He was preceded in death by his father Ed in 1972 and his mother Jevannah in 1974.