Burlie E. Segelke, 87, life resident of the Brush & Hillrose communities, passed away Tuesday, January 21, 2020, following a lengthy illness.  He was born August 25, 1932, in Brush to F.W. "Bill" and Lucine Segelke.

Burlie graduated from Roosevelt High School.  He served 2 years in the US Army returning to his family and starting a new family with Shirley Lowen.  They were married June 8, 1958, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Hillrose.  They worked the hard life of farming and ranching.  Burlie escaped when he could in his Cessna 180.  Some days his passenger would turn green, but Burlie would always have a big smile.  Years ahead of his time, he was on the front edge of organic natural foods, hulling millet and sunflower seeds.  Burlie put everything he had and more into his work, but Sunday was for Church in Hillrose and family dinner at home – both with a smile.

Survivors include his wife, Shirley;  5 children, Dean (Tommie) Segelke of Fort Morgan; Lisa (Kevin) Raddatz of Grayslake, IL; Joel Segelke of Evans, CO; Mark (Kandice) Segelke of Brush; and Leann (Ed) Fritzler of Hillrose; 1 brother, Wesley (Marty) Segelke of Denver; 1 sister-in-law, Gwendolyn Segelke of Brush; 1 brother-in-law, Dave Lowen of Willard and his grandchildren; Clair Segelke, Sarah (Kelly) Whitney, Ashley (Dustin) Janzen, Brandon (Paige) Dulaney, Rebecca (Jeremiah) Curtis, Austin Segelke, Amanda Deaver, Zachary Segelke, Ethan Segelke, Ellie Fritzler and Raeann Fritzler, great grandchildren; Nathan, Owen, Jayce, Lane, Annalee, Hailyn, Kole, Aceline, Porter, Wyatt and Ava, and many nieces and nephews.  Burlie was preceded in death by 2 brothers, Everett and Francis and his parents.

A memorial service will be held Monday, January 27, 2020, at 10:30 AM at the Shepherd of the Plains Lutheran Church in Fort Morgan.  Inurnment will be in the Willard Cemetery.  Friends who wish may make memorial gifts to the Shepherd of the Plains Lutheran Church.  The Heer Mortuary & Crematory is entrusted with the funeral arrangements.

As big as his hands were, there are bigger (God's).  He wasn't able to always do what he wanted with his hands but the hands that hold him will never falter or fail.