David “Dave” E. Burgess, 69, of Idyllwild, died from complications of leukemia on Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2004 at Hemet Valley Medical Center.
Mr. Burgess was born Dec. 9, 1934, in Minneapolis, Minn.
He earned his bachelor’s degree in Texas and had been an engineer for 45 years, retiring in 2003 from Remtec Systems in Gardenia. He also had served in the Air Force Reserves.
Mr. Burgess had lived in Idyllwild for the past six years. He loved birds, squirrels and fire engines, and was an avid mountain bike rider.
He had been a volunteer at the YMCA in Torrance. He also was a chalice bearer at his church and helped build an outdoor chapel at St. Hugh’s Episcopal Church.
He volunteered at the Idyllwild HELP Center, delivered Meals-on-Wheels in Idyllwild and assisted at the Cedar Glen Fire in San Diego County for a couple of days by having fund-raisers for fire victims.
His family said they were very blessed to have him in their lives and he was a blessed man.
Inurnment was to be private. Hemet Valley Mortuary is handling arrangements.
He is survived by his wife of 29 years, Barbara Burgess of Idyllwild; two daughters, Holly Hiza of Napa and Lisa Casperson of Idyllwild; a son, David E. Burgess Jr. of Wildomar; and three grandhildren.