LESTER CHARLES BURGWARDT JR.

Lester Charles Burgwardt Jr, PH.D. passed away on Sunday, November 13, 2022 at his home, surrounded by his family and partner. He was born on may 24, 1926 in Hamburg, New York to the late Lester Charles Burgwardt and the late Anna Meyer. He was proceeded in death by his brother Kenneth L. Burgwardt and sister Shirley A. Burgwardt.

Enlisting in the U.S. Navy in October 1943 at the age of 17, Lester started his tour of duty at Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania, attending the Naval Aviation Program. In January 1944, he entered boot camp at Cambridge Maryland. He eventually became a rear facing gunner in a Grumman TBM Avenger with VC 14 during World War II stationed out of Naval Air Station Barbers Point, Hawaii.

After being discharged from active duty, Lester continued his tour of duty in the Navy Reserve at Buckley Field in Denver, Colorado while attending Colorado A&M, now known as University of Northern Colorado, in Greeley, Colorado, where he obtained his bachelor's degree in Horticulture in 1951.

In 1950, while attending college, he was recalled to active duty to serve in the Korean conflict, but received deferral until July 1951 so he could complete his degree program. With his degree in hand, he was stationed at Naval Air Station Seattle, WA and Farragut Naval Training Station, Sandpoint, ID.

After being discharged from the Korean Conflict, Lester returned to Colorado A&M where he obtained his teaching certificate and then his master's degree in Biological Science in 1954. He went further and obtained his Doctorate Degree in 1967 from Colorado State College, Fort Collins, Colorado. After obtaining his Doctorate Degree, he was recalled to serve his country this time during the Vietnam War.

Lester spent 30 years serving his country, in the Navy, Navy Reserve and Army Reserve ultimately retiring as a Master Sergeant (E-8) in the Army Reserve.

Lester earned many awards and honors over his lifetime, including the Outstanding Science Teacher of the Year, Vietnam War Veterans Memorial Wall (City of Henderson) nominee, Honor Flight Southern Nevada participant.

During his 68 years in the Las Vegas Valley, Lester devoted 30 years as an educator and mentor and was known by all as "Dr. Les". Besides serving in the military, teaching was his next greatest passion. He began his teaching legacy at Basic High School in the Henderson School District, Henderson, NV in 1954 as a biology teacher. In the early 1970's he transferred to CVT Gilbert Elementary School in Las Vegas, NV. Eventually, he returned to Basic High School and retired from the Clark County School District in 1984. Additionally, he was a member of Elks Lodge #2802, Henderson/green Valley and was recently recognized for a total of 75 years as an Elk. He was a founding member of the Henderson Presbyterian Church, a member of the National Science Teachers Association, Chair of Southwest Regional Conference in 1968, and a long-standing member of the Disabled American Veterans.