Obituary of Donald Paul Buercklin

Donald Paul Buercklin, age 77, of Osage Beach, Missouri died peacefully in his sleep Monday, September 3, 2012. Don was born on July 2, 1935 to Kenneth Orville and Florence (Nack) Buercklin. At Webster Groves High School, Don was an avid athlete, nicknamed �Burke�, lettering in three sports and winning the Roberts Trophy. After graduating from Webster Groves in 1953, he completed his freshman year at Arizona State University in Tucson, Arizona where he played on the football team and pledged the SAE fraternity. Don transferred to Washington University and graduated from the School of Dental Medicine in 1961. He married his high school sweetheart, Barbara Kay Long, in 1956. Don joined the United States Air Force and served his beloved country in California and France. He was honorably discharged as a captain and set up his dental practice in Des Peres. He also treated patients at Koch Hospital and served as a faculty member of the Washington University School of Dental Medicine. He retired from the practice of dentistry in 2000. Don was an avid outdoorsman who loved hunting, fishing and golfing. He was a life-long member of the National Rifle Association and a 25-year member of the Kirkwood Optimist Club, serving as its President 1970-71. Don also loved playing on the Optimists� softball team and helping with its annual Christmas tree lot. Don joins his son, Brian William Buercklin and his grandson Donald Oliver Buercklin in heaven. He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Barbara of the home, son Kenneth Oliver Buercklin of San Antonio, daughter Laura Kay Fitzpatrick and husband Kevin of Kansas City, son Donald Paul Buercklin, Jr., and Melissa Buercklin, widow of his son, Brian. �Poppa B.� will be dearly missed by his seven grandchildren, Sean, Jamie and Haley Fitzpatrick, Taylor and Jack Buercklin, and Kasey and Steven Buercklin.