Manuela Buerkle
Manuela "Mellie" Buerkle, 80, passed away at her home in Sun City Center, surrounded by family and caregivers from Life Path Hospice. After battling cancer for a year, she moved on to her heavenly home.
She was born in Silver City, NM, the daughter of Manuel and Simona Parra. She spent her formative years in Fierro, NM, and Deming, NM, before moving to Bagdad, AZ, as a teenager. She graduated from Bagdad High School as class salutatorian and then went on to attend Arizona State University where she earned her Baccalaureate degree in Elementary Education.
After teaching in southern California for several years, Mellie accepted a position with the Department of Defense Dependent Schools, teaching the children of US service members in Germany. Her first assignment was in Mannheim, followed by Heidelberg and, finally, Landstuhl. While at Landstuhl, she earned her Master's degree in Education from National-Louis University.
After over 30 years of government service, she retired and moved to Sun City Center where she became an avid reader and jig-saw puzzler and enjoyed reconnecting with old friends and family members. She was also active in Chapter 1074 of NARFE and in the German-American Club of Sun City Center, serving on the board of directors.
She is survived by her husband of 52 years, Paul; her son, Paul Buerkle Jr. (June); her daughter, Monica (Brett) Bender; and her six grandchildren, Mandy, Caleigh, Ava, Annelise, Skylar and Timothy. Surviving siblings include brothers, Anthony (Debbie) Parra and Samuel Parra and sister, Esperanza "Hope" Parra. Other survivors include an aunt, a niece, nephews and cousins.
A memorial service for Mellie will be held on Friday, June 2, 2023, at 11 a.m. at the National Cremation & Burial Society Home, 308 E. College Ave. (SR 674), Ruskin, FL 33570. Donations in her honor can be made to Life Path Hospice c/o Chapters Health Foundation, 12470 Telecom Drive, Suite 301, Tampa, FL 33637, or to the German-American Club of Sun City Center, 1009 N. Pebble Beach Blvd., Sun City Center, FL 33573.
She was born in Silver City, NM, the daughter of Manuel and Simona Parra. She spent her formative years in Fierro, NM, and Deming, NM, before moving to Bagdad, AZ, as a teenager. She graduated from Bagdad High School as class salutatorian and then went on to attend Arizona State University where she earned her Baccalaureate degree in Elementary Education.
After teaching in southern California for several years, Mellie accepted a position with the Department of Defense Dependent Schools, teaching the children of US service members in Germany. Her first assignment was in Mannheim, followed by Heidelberg and, finally, Landstuhl. While at Landstuhl, she earned her Master's degree in Education from National-Louis University.
After over 30 years of government service, she retired and moved to Sun City Center where she became an avid reader and jig-saw puzzler and enjoyed reconnecting with old friends and family members. She was also active in Chapter 1074 of NARFE and in the German-American Club of Sun City Center, serving on the board of directors.
She is survived by her husband of 52 years, Paul; her son, Paul Buerkle Jr. (June); her daughter, Monica (Brett) Bender; and her six grandchildren, Mandy, Caleigh, Ava, Annelise, Skylar and Timothy. Surviving siblings include brothers, Anthony (Debbie) Parra and Samuel Parra and sister, Esperanza "Hope" Parra. Other survivors include an aunt, a niece, nephews and cousins.
A memorial service for Mellie will be held on Friday, June 2, 2023, at 11 a.m. at the National Cremation & Burial Society Home, 308 E. College Ave. (SR 674), Ruskin, FL 33570. Donations in her honor can be made to Life Path Hospice c/o Chapters Health Foundation, 12470 Telecom Drive, Suite 301, Tampa, FL 33637, or to the German-American Club of Sun City Center, 1009 N. Pebble Beach Blvd., Sun City Center, FL 33573.