Bradley David Buerge, 68
Bradley David Buerge was born on Dec. 12, 1953, in Wadsworth, Ohio. He and his twin brother, Jody Lee, were born to Donald and Eunice Vining Buerge. He tragically passed away Sept. 12, 2022, in Bonners Ferry, Idaho, at the age of 68.
When a young child, the family separated. Brad lived in seven states with seven families. He received a 10th grade education, attending 13 schools. He was baptized into the Church of God in Christ, Mennonite as a youngster.
Brad worked on crop and dairy farms, logging crews, fence building crews, and drove trash truck. He worked at the Wolverine Worldwide Shoe Factory in Ithaca, Mich. Brad served in the United States Navy at Pearl Harbor during the latter part of the Cold War.
In 1997, Brad moved permanently to North Idaho. Again he worked at various and odd jobs. He managed a motel, worked on tree farms, cut firewood and worked at General Feed and Grain. Brad signed up with different organizations and enjoyed walking about our community, door to door, to collect money for humanity purposes.
Brad struggled throughout his life and talked of heaven as his goal. He regularly attended Mountain View Mennonite Church. After the service, Brad would thoroughly enjoy seeking out and distributing candy to eager little children from his ever ready candy bag.
On March 2, 2017, Brad lost most of his belongings in a fire including his Bible with its many handwritten notations. He enjoyed visiting and storytelling with an amazing memory for dates, places and people. He had a talent for writing poetry and short essays and published a booklet. Brad enjoyed doing crossword puzzles in the daily newspaper and collected many books, articles, clippings, brochures and magazines. He had aspiration to someday rewrite his book, "On the Banks of Bane Creek" after he lost his copy in the fire.
A highlight in his life was a motorcycle ride from Bonners Ferry back to Ohio and Michigan in the fall of 2019 where he met up with old friends and preachers.
Brad accumulated little of worldly goods but gave freely of what he had. With an outgoing personality, Brad made friends easily. He had a fondness for relatives and loved ones who had already gone to their reward and expressed a longing to meet them there.
Survivors include one brother, Jody Buerge of Ithaca, Mich.; and two sisters, Nona Hinshaw of Enterprise, Kan., and Willi Buerge of Post Falls, Idaho. He was preceded in death by his parents and one infant brother.
Bonners Ferry Funeral Home is caring for the family. To leave a message or memory for the family, please go to www.bonnersferryfuneralhome.com.