Douglas Robert 'Boomer' Burnikel

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Burnikel, Douglas Robert "Boomer" of Brooklyn Park, MN, passed away on Dec 10, 2022, at the age of 75. Doug was preceded in death by mother, Hope Burnikel and daughter, Deborah Burnikel. Survived by wife, Zhouqin; son, Bret (Sherie); sisters, Barbara Alexander, Amy Gern, Constance Burnikel; many nephews, cousins and their families. Doug graduated from Benilde High School, Class of 1965. He served in the U.S. Army from 1968 to 1969. He enjoyed a 33-year career with Graybar from 1970 to 2003. In 1981, Doug established the Deborah Burnikel Foundation in memory of his 10-year-old daughter, who died in 1980. The Foundation awarded scholarships to the students of Benilde-St. Margaret's and Hopkins High School, children and grandchildren of Graybar employees, children of members of the Twin Cities Sports Collectors Club, of which Doug was a Hall of Famer. Doug loved baseball and baseball cards. He owned Boomer's Ballcards in Hopkins from 1980 to 1991. He enjoyed golf and bowling, with a lifetime achievement of twenty 300 games and six 800+ series. He also volunteered as the assistant coach of the Benilde-St. Margaret High School Bowling Team from 2014 to 2021. Doug enjoyed solving and making crosswords, several of which were published by Universal Crosswords, the L.A. Times and the New York Times. He wrote a total of 281 Monday reviews for the L.A. Times Crossword Corner blog. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to St Gabriel the Archangel Catholic Church or to a charity of your choice. Visitation on Thursday, December 15 from 2:30-5:30 PM at Washburn-McReavy Strobeck Johnson Chapel, 1400 Mainstreet, Hopkins. Mass of Christian Burial on Friday, December 16 at 4 PM, at St Gabriel the Archangel Catholic Church-St. Joseph's Campus, 1300 Mainstreet, Hopkins, MN. Interment St. Margaret's Cemetery on Saturday. December 17. Washburn-McReavy.com Strobeck Johnson 952-938-9020

Published on December 14, 2022