Donna Lee Burgee

Donna Lee Burgee (née: Dempsey), 80 of Barnhart, MO, died February 4, 2023. Donna was born  November 13, 1942 in St. Louis, MO and graduated from Lindbergh High School and is preceded in death by her parents Donald and Lucille Dempsey, and husband Charles Burgee.

Donna was married to Charles Burgee on July 21, 1962.  They were married for 51 years.

In addition to being a homemaker, Donna worked at and eventually managed B Dalton Booksellers for several years before moving on to manage and eventually, retire from Waldenbooks.  She was an avid reader, she loved music, movies, dancing, haunted houses, westerns, history, Native American culture and any and all animals. She also enjoyed traveling, researching her family tree, and spending time with family.

Donna is survived by her three children, Rene (Dean) Chamness, Tom (Michele)Burgee, and Ramona (David) Midgett; grandchildren Ryan Arnold, Michael Arnold, Jesse Hofford, Kaylynne (Kevin) Sitzes, and Nicole Burgee; Great-grandchildren, Tristan Arnold, Alaina Sitzes, Aidan Arnold, Hayden Sitzes, Stacy Sitzes; cousins Harry (Carrie) Rodebaugh, Paul (Pam) Rodebaugh, Gwen Haugen (Paul Olitsky), Corwin Rodebaugh, and Sagan Rodebaugh.

Donna will be most remembered for her humor and endless love and unending generosity to all of those who were lucky enough to know her.

A memorial service will be held from 2-5pm on Thursday, February 9, 2023 at St. Louis Cremation, 2135 Chouteau Ave. St. Louis, Missouri 63103

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be given to The Endangered Wolf Center @ https://www.endangeredwolfcenter.org or The Humane Society of Missouri @ https://www.hsmo.org.

5 Comments

  1. Kelley Dempsey on February 9, 2023 at 12:24 pm

    I am so sorry for your loss. Donna was a lovely and funny person and I wish that I had known her as I was growing up instead of only getting to know her 20 years ago. She was so good and kind to my grandpa (her uncle), I will never forget that and because of her kindness to him, I was able to get to know her. I regret that I am not able to attend the memorial service today but Donna and her family are in my thoughts.



  2. Michele Burgee on February 9, 2023 at 6:01 pm

    I’ll Miss you, mom. You were a wonderful mother-in-law and I was blessed to know you and become your daughter-in-law. Love you, Michele xoxo



  3. Tom Burgee on February 9, 2023 at 7:34 pm

    Love ya mom… You had bag pipes playing amazing grace. 😁 (Thanks to Mo)

    If there is one thing I will always remember about you.. it’s how I could always turn to you, no matter what… When the world fell in around me… You were there. I love you mom.



  4. Gwen Haugen on February 10, 2023 at 2:57 am

    Love you Aunt Donna ❤️. I’m so sorry I couldn’t attend the memorial. Thank you for attaching the video here – great to see happy memories. My love of reading was definitely inspired and nurtured by Aunt Donna. I still treasure the dictionary she gave me when I went off to college. Always so witty and fun-loving….rest in love ❤️



  5. Harvey Summers on February 11, 2023 at 4:53 pm

    Fairwell Donna I will always remember your kindness and your humor Thank you for being such a good friend to my mother, Mary Ann, especially when she needed one. I hope you find Charlie waiting for you, for you deserve such happiness again. And a really good book.



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