George F. Burggraf
April 13, 1923 — Sept. 26, 2010
MONTROSE — George F. Burggraf, age 87, of Montrose, Colo., passed away Sunday morning, Sept. 26, 2010, at his home. George moved to the Western Slope residing in Grand Junction and accepted a position with KREX as a radio and television host for many years and was known as George Taylor prior to moving to Montrose. George was a native of Collinsville, Ill. and was attending the University of Illinois when he entered the service in World War II. He was a flight radio operator with the Army Air Force. Following the war, George returned to radio and attended the University of Illinois. He helped out in broadcasting sports before taking his first full-time radio job with radio station KSOY in Decatur, Ill. Then, the family moved to Florida for 10 years, where he continued as an announcer. Subsequent radio jobs included being program manager and sports director at WALE in Somerset, Mass., after broadcasting in Omaha, Kansas and Indiana. He returned to Massachusetts where he worked for the mayor for a few years. George worked as a manager of the Montrose radio station for approximately six months prior to becoming ill. He loved his worked in radio and felt it would always be an important form of communication—possibly the most important. He started using the name Taylor, instead of Burggraf; it was an old family name and he was also a signer of the Declaration of Independence, and it was easier to pronounce than Burggraf. George loved Colorado, the mountains and the outdoors. He enjoyed traveling and taking in the beautiful scenery around each and every corner. He loved his family and spending time with them. George will be missed by his many family and friends.
Survivors include his wife, Linda Burggraf of the family home; son, Kurt Burggraf and wife Kim of Montrose; three daughters, Kristine Burggraf of Montrose, Katrina Burggraf-Kledas and husband, Bill of Arlington, Texas, Karel Reid and husband Darral of San Antonio, Texas; and three grandchildren, Kristopher Burggraf, Jordyn Kledas and Jade Reid.
Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice & Palliative Care of Western Colorado, in memory of George Burggraf, P.O. Box 1804, Montrose, CO 81402. A graveside service with military honors by the V.F.W., D.A.V., American Legion and the Army National Guard, Honor Guard will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 2, 2010, at Cedar Cemetery in Montrose. Arrangements are under the direction of Crippin Funeral Home, 802 E. Main St., Montrose, CO 81401 (970) 249-2121.
