Gary Lee Burgstead

Gary Lee Burgstead, of St. Charles, Missouri, passed away on April 28th 2025 at Progress West in O’Fallon, Missouri surrounded by family. Gary was 66 years old, and passed of natural causes.

Gary was born in St. Louis, MO the middle son of Dale H. Burgstead and Elaine H. Burgstead (Tetrault) on December 7th, 1958.

Gary attended Francis Howell High School. He loved and played football, but he had a real passion for tennis. He lettered in both, and was loved by several peers and teachers. He graduated from Francis Howell High School in 1977 and followed with working in several construction fields.

Gary married Ellen (Ellie, El) Schaffer on March 7th 1986. Gary and Ellen shared 11 years together married, and they were the best of friends, talking every day, until Ellen passed away in June of 2017. Gary lived in the same residence for 33 years in St. Charles. Throughout their marriage, Gary and Ellie had one child, Emily, and all three of them were the closest family, consisting of every day phone calls, family dinners and vacations, and constant “I love you’s”. In 2018, Emily gave birth to a baby girl, Gary’s granddaughter whom was named after his late wife, Elle. Elle was Gary’s pride and joy, and in 2021, Emily, her husband Kristopher and Elle moved back into the family home where Gary was still residing to assist with his healthcare. They lived together as one family unit until his recent death.

In Gary’s early years, he worked several construction jobs including carpentry work, installing pools, building and fixing wheelchairs and finally ending his career life at Lear Seating Corporation as a materials handler, building car seats for Ford. Gary loved his job, and was very sad when Lear closed. However, Gary ended his career at Lear, being in the top 5 in seniority, of which he was very proud.

Throughout Gary’s life, he loved hunting, fishing, camping, sports (teaching Emily how to play basketball and softball), going to garage sales, selling items at the Wentzville Flea Market, and spending time with his granddaughter Elle. He loved animals and had several pets while living with his family. Gary left his life, leaving behind 3 family cats.

Gary had a heart of gold, standing up for those who were bullied, for what was right and any living thing that may ever needed help. He would have given anyone the shirt off his back and had several times, given those less fortunate a step up. Gary had several lifelong friends that he grew up with in his neighborhood, who remember him as a generous, kind and thoughtful man. 

Gary was preceded in death by his wife, Ellie Burgstead, his father, Dale H. Burgstead and his mother, Elaine H. Burgstead (Tetrault) along with several aunts and uncles. Gary is survived by his siblings, Janet (Galen) Harrison, Dale (Bud) Burgstead, Susan (Mike) Jaeger, Jimmy (Janet) Burgstead, his daughter Emily (Kristopher Crawford) Burgstead, and his granddaughter Elle Crawford.