Donald Luverne Burger, 77 of Anacortes, WA, passed peacefully at his residence with his loving family by his side. He was born on January 24, 1944, in Mankato, MN, the son of Melvin and Arlene (Arney) Burger. He graduated from St. James High School in St. James, MN in 1962. Don enlisted in the Army in 1967 and served in Vietnam from June 1968 to June of 1969. He was honorably discharged as SGT in Company D, 2  ^nd  Battalion, 28  ^th  Regiment, 1  ^st  Infantry Division (Black Lions of the Big Red 1), receiving the Bronze Star, Army Commendation Medal and Air Medal for meritorious service, as well as the Purple Heart for wounds suffered in combat.  

  Don achieved a lot in his life through hard work, perseverance and his skill in problem solving. To put himself through college, he worked as a brakeman on the Illinois Central Railroad. He earned his B.S. and master's degrees at Mankato State College (now University of Minnesota at Mankato) and a doctorate in education from Texas Tech University in 1980. While earning his Ed.D., he worked for the Research & Training Center at Texas Tech University as a research associate, and as a management intern at the West Texas Rehabilitation Center (WTRC) in Abilene, TX. He published several articles in professional journals during his career. However, his most memorable and proud moment during his time in academics was when he found the love of his life, Susan (Fruth) Elias. They were married in 1980.  

  Don's professional life was diverse and service oriented. After receiving his master's degree in psychology, he served as a staff psychologist for the Central Wisconsin Colony and Training School in Madison, WI. Upon completion of his Ed.D., he became chief of research and training at WTRC, where he designed software for in-house databases and evaluation models for treatment programs. In the early 1980's he was a research coordinator and adjunct faculty member at the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs.  Don served as the director of research and evaluation for Weld County School District #6 in Greeley, Co School from 1987 to 1994. As a senior associate at McREL from 1995 to 2000, he worked with educators throughout a five-state region to develop standards-based, district-wide tests. In 2000, he was asked by Pacific Resources for Education & Learning (PREL) to move to Hawaii to develop student testing systems for island nations and territories in the western Pacific, including Guam, American Samoa, CNMI and the Federated States of Micronesia.  He retired in 2015, but he continued to work on individual projects in the Pacific region until 2019.  

  Don loved to travel, and he and Susan visited nearly every state as well Canada, Mexico, Australia, Egypt, the Caribbean and Italy. He enjoyed sailing and racing his Hobie Catamaran; downhill skiing; camping; and scuba diving in Mexico, the Caribbean, Red Sea and Palau. He was an excellent carpenter, and he and Susan remodeled every home they lived in. Don was also a model railroad enthusiast and was working on a G-scale display at the time of his death.  He was an avid football fan and claimed there are only two seasons in a year: football and non-football.  

  In spite of his dedication to work and his many interests, his favorite way to spend time was simply being with friends and family, including the family dogs. He was especially close to and proud of our granddaughter Sophia, and they created many warm and wonderful memories together.  

  Don was loved by everyone he worked with. His colleagues appreciated his calm, steady and caring approach to leadership and collaborative projects. He made lifelong friends wherever he lived and worked. He was simply the best man Susan has ever known — kind, caring, funny, smart, loving, patient, non-judgmental, hardworking and forgiving. He was a great husband, father and grandfather. He also had a wicked sense of humor and could make everyone laugh, even when he was in pain.  

  Don was predeceased by his parents and brother Larry. He is survived by his wife Susan; stepson Michael (Jennifer Gardner) Elias of Seattle; grandchild Sophia Ruth Elias; and his brother, Michael Burger of Anacortes.  

  Donations in his name may be made to:  

   Hospice of the NW  or to the  Kidney Foundation  .  

  To share memories of Donald, please sign the online guestbook at  www.evanschapel.com