Burger, Edward K.

Jesuit Father Edward K. Burger died Sept. 17, 2012, at age 73. He was the son of Kilian and Marie Burger and was a Jesuit for 55 years.

Fr. Burger entered the Society at St. Stanislaus Seminary in Florissant, Mo., in August 1957. After completing a Licentiate in Philosophy at Saint Louis University, he taught history at Rockhurst High School in Kansas City, Mo. He then completed his theology studies at Saint Louis University and was ordained to the priesthood on June 4, 1970, at the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis. Fr. Burger next obtained a Ph.D. in history at the University of California at Santa Barbara, specializing in the Renaissance and Reformation.

Fr. Burger was a professor of history at Saint Louis University from 1975 to 1982 and at Rockhurst University in Kansas City, Mo., from 1982 to 2005. He lived in the student dormitories at both universities for many years.

He joined the Ignatius House Jesuit Community in St. Louis after retiring from Rockhurst in 2005. Throughout his time in the community, Fr. Burger was involved in pastoral work at skilled nursing facilities in the city.

Fr. Burger was predeceased by his sister, Nancy Sue Burger. He elected to donate his body to Saint Louis University Medical School.