Forest
Forest Burm
d. August 13, 2010
Forrest H. Burm
Forrest H. Burm, 80, of Overland Park, KS peacefully passed on August 13, 2010, at Kansas City Hospice House after a brief illness.
Forrest was born in March, 1930. He was married to Darlene L. Burm, his high school sweetheart for 61 years. Darlene spotted him in Physics class and told herself, “That’s the man I’m going to marry.” They were married in 1949 and have enjoyed a long, wonderful marriage that is the envy of their friends and family.
Forrest began his career in the Trucking industry as a Billing Clerk in 1950 at Watson Brothers in Chicago. Watson Brothers was eventually purchased by Yellow Freight System. Over the years, through determination and dedication, he worked his way up the management chain. He eventually became the Terminal Manager at Yellow Freight in Chicago, which was the largest terminal in the Yellow system. He was known as “The Professor” by the local Union President, Jimmy Hoffa, who respected him for his honesty and integrity. In 1966, he was promoted to Director of Operations Research and relocated to the Kansas City Corporate office.
He held various positions at Yellow including Terminal Manager, Regional Manager, District Manager, Vice President of Equipment Maintenance and Vice President of Properties. His wide industry experience made him the ideal person to assist the mergers and acquisitions efforts of Yellow in the 1950’s and 1960’s. During the 1970’s and 1980’s he lead the construction and real estate expansion efforts that helped build Yellow into the largest LTL trucking company in the country. Forrest retired in 1991 as a Senior Vice President of Yellow Freight System.
Forrest will be remembered by his family and friends as a man of strength, generosity, and character. He valued education and was instrumental in the ensuring educational success of his children and grandchildren. Forrest will also be remembered for his love and devotion to his wife, children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. He patiently taught them card games, board games, and the use of woodworking tools. All who knew him appreciated his intellect, quick wit, and competitive spirit. Darlene and Forrest were avid travelers for 35 years, circumnavigating the globe twice by freighter and visiting every continent.
Forrest was an avid fisherman who loved to take his annual trips to the Canadian wilderness for a fly-in fishing adventure with his friends, son and grandsons. He made the trip every year for decades until this year when illness prevented him from going.
Forrest is survived by his wife and soul mate of 61 years, Darlene, his son, Daniel Burm, MBA and his wife Joan, his daughter Diane Kawagoe, Ph.D. and her husband, Kent Kawagoe, Ph.D. His grandchildren also survive and include: Steve Burm and his wife Heather, Leslie Greenwood, Chris Schmidt and his wife, Jodi, Nicki Ryan and her husband, Kris, Karin Kawagoe, MS, Kristin Lowe, DPT and her husband, Michael, Katherine Cannell and her husband, Nathan, and Kyle Kawagoe. His great-grandchildren include: Josephine Burm, Blake, Brendan, and Claire Schmidt, Luke Ryan, and Elena Lowe. He is also survived by his sister, Hollis Hess. He was preceded in death by his parents, Joseph and Helen Burm.
The visitation will be held at D.W. Newcomer’s Sons at the Johnson County Chapel 11200 Metcalf, Overland Park, KS 66210 from 2pm to 4pm on Sunday, August 15, 2010. The funeral service will be held at the same location on Monday, August 16, 2010 at 10:00am. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the American Cancer Society.
Fond memories and condolences for the family may be left at www.johnsoncountychapel.com (Arrangements: D.W. Newcomer’s Sons Johnson County Chapel, 913-451-1860)
Forrest H. Burm, 80, of Overland Park, KS peacefully passed on August 13, 2010, at Kansas City Hospice House after a brief illness.
Forrest was born in March, 1930. He was married to Darlene L. Burm, his high school sweetheart for 61 years. Darlene spotted him in Physics class and told herself, “That’s the man I’m going to marry.” They were married in 1949 and have enjoyed a long, wonderful marriage that is the envy of their friends and family.
Forrest began his career in the Trucking industry as a Billing Clerk in 1950 at Watson Brothers in Chicago. Watson Brothers was eventually purchased by Yellow Freight System. Over the years, through determination and dedication, he worked his way up the management chain. He eventually became the Terminal Manager at Yellow Freight in Chicago, which was the largest terminal in the Yellow system. He was known as “The Professor” by the local Union President, Jimmy Hoffa, who respected him for his honesty and integrity. In 1966, he was promoted to Director of Operations Research and relocated to the Kansas City Corporate office.
He held various positions at Yellow including Terminal Manager, Regional Manager, District Manager, Vice President of Equipment Maintenance and Vice President of Properties. His wide industry experience made him the ideal person to assist the mergers and acquisitions efforts of Yellow in the 1950’s and 1960’s. During the 1970’s and 1980’s he lead the construction and real estate expansion efforts that helped build Yellow into the largest LTL trucking company in the country. Forrest retired in 1991 as a Senior Vice President of Yellow Freight System.
Forrest will be remembered by his family and friends as a man of strength, generosity, and character. He valued education and was instrumental in the ensuring educational success of his children and grandchildren. Forrest will also be remembered for his love and devotion to his wife, children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. He patiently taught them card games, board games, and the use of woodworking tools. All who knew him appreciated his intellect, quick wit, and competitive spirit. Darlene and Forrest were avid travelers for 35 years, circumnavigating the globe twice by freighter and visiting every continent.
Forrest was an avid fisherman who loved to take his annual trips to the Canadian wilderness for a fly-in fishing adventure with his friends, son and grandsons. He made the trip every year for decades until this year when illness prevented him from going.
Forrest is survived by his wife and soul mate of 61 years, Darlene, his son, Daniel Burm, MBA and his wife Joan, his daughter Diane Kawagoe, Ph.D. and her husband, Kent Kawagoe, Ph.D. His grandchildren also survive and include: Steve Burm and his wife Heather, Leslie Greenwood, Chris Schmidt and his wife, Jodi, Nicki Ryan and her husband, Kris, Karin Kawagoe, MS, Kristin Lowe, DPT and her husband, Michael, Katherine Cannell and her husband, Nathan, and Kyle Kawagoe. His great-grandchildren include: Josephine Burm, Blake, Brendan, and Claire Schmidt, Luke Ryan, and Elena Lowe. He is also survived by his sister, Hollis Hess. He was preceded in death by his parents, Joseph and Helen Burm.
The visitation will be held at D.W. Newcomer’s Sons at the Johnson County Chapel 11200 Metcalf, Overland Park, KS 66210 from 2pm to 4pm on Sunday, August 15, 2010. The funeral service will be held at the same location on Monday, August 16, 2010 at 10:00am. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the American Cancer Society.
Fond memories and condolences for the family may be left at www.johnsoncountychapel.com (Arrangements: D.W. Newcomer’s Sons Johnson County Chapel, 913-451-1860)
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