Edith "Edie" Marie (Althaus) Burgess

Edith Marie "Edie" (Althaus) Burgess of Battle Creek, MI





Edie, age 98, died on Saturday evening, November 23, 2013 at Bronson Battle Creek Hospital and following a brief illness.

Edie, the daughter of Ernest and Katherine (Roth) Althaus, was born on December 24, 1914 in Lowell, MI. She was a 1932 graduate of Lowell High School; attended Western State Teachers College for two years and received a three year Teaching Certificate. Edie returned to Western State and received an A.B. Degree in Education in 1937 and taught in the Elementary School for Lakeview from 1937 until 1942. She received an additional accreditation from Northwestern University Graduate School. Edie was a member of Western Michigan University Alumni and the Kappa Delta Pi-Honor Society in Education. She was a member of the Battle Creek AAUW; fifty plus year member of the First Congregational Church and a member of its Mary Daniels Circle and a former member of the Battle Creek Country Club. Edie was a member of the Battle Creek Writers and member of the Poetry Society of Michigan. She wrote poetry and poems that were published in "Footprints of Battle Creek" and in The Michigan Anthology, "Heart Songs." She joined the First Presbyterian Church in 1998 and was a member of its XYZ Club. Edie always enjoyed baking, letter writing, flower drying, reading and was a "Telephone Conversationalist."

On December 31, 1937 in South bend, IN, Edie was united in marriage to John H. Burgess and he preceded her in death on January 18, 2011. Surviving is her sister, K. Ernestine Stauffer of Belding, MI; five nieces and seven nephews. Edie was preceded in death by her parents; her beloved daughter, Mary Katherine Burgess on October 28, 1955; three sisters, Bertha Welch, Florence Perry and Anne Klerk and by two brothers, Frederick and Wesley Althaus.

The Graveside Service to celebrate Edie's life will be held on Friday, December 6th at 2:00 p.m. in the Chapel of Memorial Park Cemetery, 2435 W. Territorial Road, with the Rev. Patricia J. Weatherwax, Associate Pastor of the First Presbyterian Church, officiating. There will be no visitation at the Farley-Estes & Dowdle Funeral Home, Battle Creek. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Edie's honor may be directed to the Muscular Dystrophy Association, 2133 University Park Drive, Okemos, MI 48864 or the First Presbyterian Church, 111 Capital Avenue, NE, Battle Creek, MI 49017.