Bernhard Jacob Burg

Bernhard Jacob Burg, 93, of Ocala Florida passed away peacefully on July 23, 2025, in Burlington, Vermont. Born to Margarete and Nikolaus in the vineyard town of Reil, along the Mosel River, in 1931. Bernhard grew up simple. Raised Roman Catholic and infused with the ethics of honesty, compassion, hard work, and selflessness. He was an altar boy, a choir boy, a student, hard working son, and a protector to his three younger brothers, Hellmut, Albert, & Otto.

He enjoyed his youth and told many stories about his time growing up in a small town and working in the family vineyards. Bernie was an inquisitive youth and was bit by the travel bug early. He met his future bride, Adlegunde Agnes Tittko, in Reil’s local pharmacy. However, eager to wander, he journeyed to  Canada twice to work as an ironworker, walking on skyscrapers and bridges! 

Gundy followed him to Toronto where  they  married at SaintPatrick's Roman Catholic Church with two other couples, their best friends in Canada. They returned brielfy to Germany to start a family and after working a year with Volkswagen in Wolsburg, Bernie & Gundy were blessed with Andrew in1958. Their dreams grew together and the three of them emigrated to the United States in 1960 where they settled and  completed  their Family with a son, Lawrence. They lived in Toms River, New Jersey. For 30 years Bernhard was employed by Novartis as their Plant Maintenance Supervisor.

Bernie and Family were parishioners of Saint Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church. Proud members of the Lakewood Männer & Damenchor, or what we all called the “German Club“, which was an American “family“, of similar European immigrant Families.He very often attended and travelled to German cultural events, as was the feature soloist for the choir. He became an avid tennis player and relished his countless hours on the courts, making  friends, maintaining his fitness, and competing, and often winning, tournaments 

Upon retirement, Bernie and Gundy moved to Dunnellon, Florida and continued to live a full life together traveling back to Germany for family visits, RV’ing throughout the USA, playing tennis near and far, and visiting their beloved grandchildren. Upon Gundy’s death in 2015, Bernie moved to Ocala, Florida to play more tennis and be closer to more people and activities. He traveled the USA playing in state and national senior tournaments and the Senior Games as a  member of the USTA, FSG, VTSG, and  ITF. Bernie volunteered his time through Marion County Hospice in Florida for 15 years. He supported Habitat for Humanity with both funds and picking up a hammer. And he never stopped donating blood.

Bernie is predeceased by his beloved wife, Adelgunde Agnes Tittko in 2015. Surviving are his sons Andrew and Lawrence and his wife Colleen, his four grandchildren, Maeve Burg, Sarah Winton and her husband Eric, Ned Burg and his wife Kelsey, and Kobi Burg, his great grandson Henry Winton, his brother Otto and his wife Irene in Germany, his sister-in-law Irmgard Burg, and his close friend Brigid Chick. Also surviving are many nieces and nephews, extended family and friends in Germany, New Jersey, Florida and Vermont.

A Memorial Gathering will be held on Saturday August 16, 2025 from 9:00am -10:45 am at Mastapeter Memorial Home, Bayville, New Jersey. A memorial mass will immediately follow at Saint Barnabas Roman Catholic Church in Bayville at 11:00am.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Bernhard’s name would be greatly appreciated and can be made to Hospice of Marion County, Legacy House, 9505 Southwest 110th Street, Ocala, Florida 34481, 352.873.7400  https://hospiceofmarion.org/donate/