On December 10, 1947 Jean married Marlo Burg at Bethlehem Covenant Church near Waverly. As a couple, Jean and Marlo spent some of their first years and their last two decades in Lincoln; the rest of the time, they lived in Waverly. During the almost 77 years that they were married, they were known among their friends as a couple who held hands often. Some of their friends have commented that they now hold hands more frequently because they were inspired by Jean and Marlo. For the past 14 years, the couple have been holding hands in the halls of the Grand Lodge at the Preserve in Lincoln.
Their daughter Marta was born in 1950, and their son John was born in 1953. The family shared time with Jean’s sister Carol and her husband Hube Dey and were fortunate to have both Jean’s mother Marie (Samuelson) Johnson and Marlo’s mother Stella (Smith Burg) Pepoon nearby. The Burgs built their cabin south of Linoma Beach in 1965. The family spent a great deal of time in the summer at their cabin, and traveled to the Ozarks for a family vacation annually.
Jean started her professional career right after high school at Nebraska Sales Book, where she became the first person in Nebraska to use an electric typewriter. In the late 1950s, Jean and Marlo purchased E&E Spraying, which evolved into Burg Manufacturing and then into National Crane owned with local partners.
When Burg Manufacturing began, Jean was the CFO and the entire accounting department! She was responsible for all of the accounting required to run the business. Over the years, Burg Manufacturing needed to hire 14 people to cover Jean’s responsibilities. She served as Credit Manager until Jean and Marlo sold the business in 1972.
In 1983, Jean, Marlo, and John founded AutoCon in Omaha, which moved to Council Bluffs and became Automated Concepts, Inc, then eventually ACIETA. Jean worked in accounting during most of those years until her retirement.
Jean was a social person who enjoyed regular interactions with her friends, and with several organizations. She belonged to the Naphis Temple of Daughters of the Nile in Lincoln and was a past Queen. She was a past President of her PEO Chapter FF now FF-IA, and was a Worthy Matron of her Eastern Star Chapter. She and Marlo enjoyed playing bridge, golf, cribbage and cooking together; they participated in a gourmet dinner group for over 30 years.
For over 60 years, Jean dedicated herself to service through the First United Methodist Church in Waverly. She enjoyed the fellowship of the United Methodist Women group, belonged to a Circle, and led and participated in a number of activities. For over 20 years, Jean participated on the committee for the annual church barbecue each October.
Jean was an avid sports fan and enjoyed watching all Husker sports, but especially football, baseball and of course volleyball. She also enjoyed watching both the Chiefs and Royals as well as any team her great-grandchildren were playing on. Marlo and Jean were season ticket holders at Memorial Stadium; for close to 50 years she never missed a home game. Her passion for sports was a known commitment for her entire life.
Jean was always passionate about her family. Enjoying time with her four grandchildren, their spouses and especially the seven great-grandchildren included watching countless performances of all kinds. The family feasts always included Jeans homemade bread, pies and cookies.
Jean is preceded in death by her parents, her daughter Marta (Burg) Dickson, and her sister, Carol (Johnson) Dey.
Jean is survived by her husband, Marlo Burg; her son John (Debra) Burg of Pickerel Lake, South Dakota and Papillion, Nebraska; and her grandchildren Angela Burg of Gretna, Nebraska; IV (Adrienne) Dickson of Lincoln; Megan (Elizabeth) Burg of Westminster, Colorado; and Ryan (Imanni) Burg of Oak Park, Illinois. Jean was an active great-grandmother to Christopher, Bryn, Jed, Evie, Emmett, Stella, and Roscoe.
Jean’s memorial service will take place at 3 PM on Monday, October 14 at First United Methodist Church, 14410 Folkestone in Waverly, with interment to follow the service at the cemetery in Waverly.
The visitation will take place from 2 to 4 PM on Sunday, October 13 at Roper and Sons Waverly Chapel, 10851 North 148th Street in Waverly.
Condolences online at Roperandsons.com.
If you would like to make a contribution in Jean’s memory, please direct it to First United Methodist Church in Waverly.