Mr. Burgess died Thursday, Sept. 13, 2007, at Genesis Medical Center, Illini Campus, Silvis.
Mr. Burgess was born Aug. 11, 1942, in Upper Sandusky, Ohio, the son of Jesse and Lovie McDanel Burgess. He married Helen Serra Sept. 26, 1964, in St. Anthony's Catholic Church, Des Moines, Iowa.
He served in the U.S. Navy. He worked for the former International Harvester Farmall Plant, Rock Island. He then worked for Barjan in East Moline. He retired in 2003 from International Harvester, Chicago.
He had enjoyed going to the Quad City Downs when the horses were still running and going to the local riverboats. He was a loving husband and father.
Survivors include his wife of almost 44 years, Helen Burgess, Silvis; son, Ray Burgess, Illinois; sisters-in-law, Lou Romeo, Des Moines, Carol Serra, Silvis, Elsie Crane, Florida; brother-in-law, Tony Romeo, Des Moines; and family members in the Quad-Cities, Kentucky and Florida. He was preceded in death by his parents.