Loretta Fay Koopmann Burge passed away June 12, 2026 at home with family and friends at her side.
Loretta was born June 28, 1941 at home in Gruenau to Anton and Antonia Wild Koopmann. She was baptized and confirmed at St. Paul Lutheran Church, Yorktown.
She was a member of the Yorktown High School class of 1959. After high school she ventured away from Yorktown, finding her way to Washington D.C. There, she worked at the US Treasury, and watched the White House Flag go to half-staff the day President Kennedy was assassinated.
It was also in the Washington D.C. area that she met Neal Burge, a sergeant in the US Air Force. They married on January 2, 1964. They spent the first three years of their marriage in England when Neal was stationed at Chicksands AFB. The last stop in Neal’s USAF career took them to St. Louis, MO. During the five years in St. Louis, Loretta became an Avon Lady who served the military housing area.
In 1974 Neal retired and the family moved to Yorktown. Loretta spent the first years as a homemaker. She served as a room mother for both of her children’s classes, volunteered at the Primary Campus, and was involved in PTO as an officer and event organizer. Away from the school, Loretta also participated in the creation of the Chamber of Commerce’s yearly floats, painting, hammering, stapling, and glittering a lot of plywood to help capture that year’s theme. In later years, Loretta and Neal would help greet parade entrants before the Grand Parade during Western Days. For two years, she served as a Girl Scout leader for her daughter’s troop.
Loretta picked up her involvement with the Yorktown Independent School when she took the job as the Band Assistant helping the band director. She transitioned into working at the YISD main office, and finally was the Federal Programs and clerical person for the cafeteria. For many years she knew every student in the school thanks to checking off their names as they went through the breakfast and lunch lines every day. She retired after twenty years of service to YISD. Loretta also worked at the local grocery store as a bookkeeper through three of its ownership changes.
Loretta was predeceased by her parents and husband.
She is survived by son, Richard Burge and wife Shanna of Lindenau, TX; daughter, Pamela Burge of Yorktown, TX; granddaughter, Tracy Burns of Jonesboro, AR; grandson, Sean Burge and wife Vanessa of League City, TX; brother, Arvid Koopmann and wife Susan of Dallas, TX; many nieces; a multitude of cousins; and many beloved friends.
A Celebration of Life will be held on June 28, 2026 at Gruenau Hall. The service will begin at 4:00 p.m. with a meal served at 5:00 p.m. Pastor Frances Ann Koopmann will be presiding.
The family wishes to extend their heartfelt gratitude to Harbor Hospice for their kindness and guidance. Special thanks goes to nurse Misty Orsak and CNA Dulce Villegas. For their loving hands and hearts, thanks go to Yvonne Torres, Alexis Torres and Jessica Boyd for the hours of care and Lisa Ledwik for being ready to step in when needed. And to Becky Banda, the family is grateful for the guidance and assistance in setting up around the clock care.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Loretta’s honor to her favorite charity, The Yorktown Firemen’s Association (PO Box 284, Yorktown, TX 78164) of the donor’s choice.