Justin Burger was born Sept. 23, 1980 in Bellville. He was the son of Renee Baggett and Roy Gene Burger. He grew up in the Cat Spring area and attended Sealy schools.
Justin exhibited talent in various skills that allowed him to work in a variety of occupations throughout his life. For numerous years, Justin showed skilled craftsmanship doing carpentry work with Gene, Avey and recently with his father on his home.
Learning lessons of life and humor were added bonuses to the daily work. When Justin took on jobs involving heavy machinery such as dozer work, the projects were completed with precision and accuracy that just seemed to come easy for him. Justin grew up with a natural talent for working with horses and a love of rodeo. He was able to use this talent in several different was.
Justin learned the skill of horse shoeing from Mr. Jones and that enabled him to not only take care of his own horses but many others as well.
His horsemanship skills allowed him the opportunity to work in movies with his father Roy. The Alamo, Rough Riders and Varsity Blues are just several movies that he loved to tell stories about happenings while on the set. He also worked in several other movies but in other capacities.
Following years of successful competition in youth rodeos, Justin was talented enough to become a professional cowboy. He was a member of the PRCA, the USTRC, and the CPRA. Skilled in several events, Justin eventually focused his efforts on roping. Besides the pro rodeos, he spent many hours with his friends at team roping competitions. “One loop at a time” and “go for broke” were two key philosophies that he embraced every time out of the box and in life.
All of these skills and talents were not what made Justin the person that was loved by so many. Justin was a “genuine” person. For better or worse, Justin was “Justin” every day of his life. Whether you were getting one of his hugs or one of his alternative greetings, Justin always radiated the same unique personality and charm. Without question, his mission to “live life to the fullest and “always have a 24 hour day” was completed.
Justin was pronounced dead Tuesday, July 29, 2008 at his residence in Bellville at the age of 27. He leaves behind his mother, Renee Baggett of Cypress, his father, Roy Gene Burger of Cat Spring, his best friend and brother, Clint Burger and his wife Cherie, his nephew Spin’er Burger of Cat Spring, his grandmother, Dottie Phillips of Bellville, and half brothers, Austin and Hayes Burger of Cat Spring. Also surviving Justin are girlfriend Ginger Hall of Pattison and numerous other relatives and great friends. He was preceded in death by grandparents Fred W. and Hazel Hargrave Burger, Uncles Terry Carrington, Gary Carrington and great grandmother Nell Langham.
Pallbearers were Avery Shrum, Russell Reichardt, Jonathan Peck, Heath Wiktorik, Ben Dyer, Doug Bass, Jonathan Kloss, and Tracey Estep.
Honorary Pallbearers are Robert Navarro, Rolando Alaniz, and Gene Wittenburg.