Obituary
Edward “Burt” Bigelow, loving husband, brother, father, grandfather and great grandfather passed away in Lee’s Summit, Missouri on September 9, 2025 at the age of 89. Burt was born in St. Paul, Minnesota on July 1, 1936 to Charles Henry Bigelow III and Edith Emily Burt Bigelow. He spent most of his life in Minnesota and had a deep multi generational connection to the state.
Burt attended Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, then transferred to Macalester College in St. Paul, Minnesota. Burt worked at Boeing Aerospace in Seattle, Washington, before transitioning back to St. Paul to pursue work as a realtor. Eventually he settled in a career as a special education teacher in the 916 school district. Through this work he touched the lives of countless students, valuing and seeing the best in each and every one of them.
Burt pursued a wide variety of interests and hobbies. While still in college, he obtained his private pilot’s license and was active in The Flying Scots Club. Burt owned and raced his own hot air balloon named Moby Dick. He was a skilled boater enjoying sailing on the many lakes and navigating his cabin cruiser on the rivers that Minnesota has to offer. Burt used those skills to volunteer for the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary. Burt enjoyed his specialty car, a Triumph, and was active in the Minnesota Triumphs Club.
Other interests and organization he belonged to include the St. Paul Curling Club and the Ramsey Hill Association, dedicated to the preservation of St. Paul’s historic district.
Burt loved to travel and spent many holidays in Paris visiting his sister Alison. He traveled extensively with his family internationally.
Burt was a talented jewelry maker and enjoyed making things for family and friends. His individually crafted pieces will be forever ours.
Burt was known for welcoming those who needed a place to belong. He was the extra dad to all his children’s friends. He made sure no one ever left a Christmas gathering empty handed with his tradition of having extra gifts on hand for everyone there.
Burt will always be remembered for his kind heart and cheerful personality as well as his sense of humor. Burt is survived by his wife, Mary Lois Bigelow, his 3 children, 4 stepchildren, numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren as well as his sister, Deborah. He was preceded in death by his parents and sister, Allison.
A celebration of life will take place at John Knox Village, Meadows Community Center in Lees Summit, Missouri on Wednesday October 1st at 3pm. Burial will be at Oakland Cemetery in St. Paul, Minnesota on October 3rd at 11:00am at the Bigelow Family plot.
Donations may be made in honor of Burt to the John Knox Village Foundation, EMS Capital Campaign, 400 NW Murray Road, Lee’s Summit, Missouri. 64081.
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Lee's Summit, MO 64081
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Lee's Summit, MO 64081
Burt was a wonderfully genial and welcoming person. He gathered friends and warmed the room with genuine affection. In retirement, he regularly scheduled coffee house meetings for his “Old Farts Club.” I admired his many talents — ballooning, piloting, curling, jewelry making. They were, perhaps, crowned by his assembly of a 1950’s Jaguar which he bought, engine completely torn down, just boxes of parts. Burt had those parts and a British manual, put that beautiful car together, and drove it for several years. He also lifted spirits when he drove up in his little Nash Metropolitan, greeting friends with the car’s playful horn. We have lost a creative, compassionate spirit and good friend.
High Flight
By Pilot Officer John Gillespie Magee Jr.
Oh, I have slipped the surly bonds of Earth
And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings:
Sunward I’ve climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth
Of sun-split clouds-and done a hundred things.
You have not dreamed of-wheeled and soared and swung
High in the sunlit silence hovering there,
I’ve chased the shouting wind along and flung,
My eager craft through footless halls of air.
Up, the long, delirious burning blue
I’ve topped the windswept heights with easy grace
Where never lark, or even eagle flew-
And, while the silent lifting mind I’ve trod
The high untrespassed sanctity of space,
Put out my and hand and touched
the face of God.