Von Burgess

Von Burgess was born August 20, 1926 in Dierks Arkansas. He grew up there, excelled in all sports and was the quarterback on the High School football team. He then joined the Air Force and served during World War II. After leaving the service he moved to Bend when the population was only 8000. He had a variety of jobs in Bend until starting his own business, a gas station and service center on 3rd St. He owned the first U Haul business east of the Cascades. After selling the station he never really retired. Always wanting to be doing something and on the move, he helped out at Les Mombert's Arrow Rentals for awhile then started working as a driver transporting vehicles for local auto dealers including his friend Dave Holt. His last driving job was with Avis car rental where he became known as "The Breeze" because he was always ready for another drive, "Blowing down the road" until he was 90 years old. He was usually the lead driver until age finally caught up with him. He met and married Isabelle "Billie' Johnson in 1948. They had one daughter, Cindy, two grandsons, Kody and Chris and two great grandsons, Luke and Will. He loved the outdoors, hunting, fishing, waterskiing, camping, golfing. He loved all sports and excelled in all of them. He loved the desert. It's where he found peace in the open spaces and the freedom it provided. As a hunter he was very successful: deer, elk, antelope, turkeys, upland birds and waterfoul. Many trophies filled his garage and he won big buck contests. With a great sense of humor, he was well known and liked in the community, a longtime member of the Bend Golf and Country Club. Von was preceded in death by his parents Lawrence and Pearl, his sister Gerri and wife Billie. Von died peacefully of natural causes early on July 24, 2023 at Cascades of Bend Retirement center. Von is survived by Cindy, son in law Harvey, grandsons Kody and Chris, great grandsons, Luke and Will, sister Shelly and nephew Eldon. There will be a Celebration of life for Von at Community of Christ Church 20380 Cooley Rd., Bend on Saturday August 5 at 11:00 AM. A very special thank you to his sister Shelby, to son in law Harvey and to the staff at Cascades of Bend, as well as the caring people of Hospice.

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Von Burgess

August 20, 1926 - July 24, 2023