William "Bill" Burdick Sr 1952-2012

BURDICK DEGUNTHER

Posted By: Connie Swearingen-Volunteer (email)
Date: 8/23/2012 at 12:39:43

Sioux City Journal
August 05, 2012

William "Bill" Burdick Sr., 60, of Emmetsburg, Iowa, formerly of Sioux City, passed away on Aug. 3, 2012, at home, surrounded by family and friends after a courageous battle with cancer.

Services will be 1:30 p.m. Tuesday at First United Methodist Church in Emmetsburg. Burial will be in Evergreen Cemetery at Emmetsburg. Visitation will be 5 to 8 p.m. Monday at Martin-Mattice Funeral Home in Emmetsburg. Online condolences may be left at martinmatticefuneralhome.com. Following the committal service at the cemetery Tuesday afternoon, everyone is invited to a lunch, which will be held at the Go Gutters building, 2003 14th Street in Emmetsburg.

William “Bill” Burdick Sr. was born on April 11, 1952, in Sioux City, Iowa, to Robert Sr. and Joyce Burdick. Bill served in the 185th Air Guard as a technical sergeant.

He married Janis DeGunther on July 31, 1976, in Sioux City, recently celebrating 36 years of marriage. They made their home in Emmetsburg in May 1983. Bill was the manager of MidAmerican Energy (formerly Iowa Public Service (IPS) Electric), taking early retirement at the age of 44.

He was very involved in the Emmetsburg community, where he acted as Chamber of Commerce president (1985), introducing the weekly Chamber of Commerce Coffee visits and hosting RAGBRAI’s visit to Emmetsburg in 1985. In 1986, Bill was awarded the Charles Hughes “Citizen of the Year” award. He also served on the Country Club Board and was a member of the Kiwanis, Masonic Lodge and Consistory, and Abu Bekr Shrine.

Bill enjoyed life to the fullest, having obtained his pilot and real estate licenses following his early retirement. On most summer days, he could be found on his pontoon with his family and friends on Five Island Lake. A car guy from the earliest of ages, he enjoyed restoring antique cars and took great pride in showing them to other car enthusiasts. Perhaps the greatest role that he played was that of “papa” to his granddaughter, Caroline.

He is survived by his wife, Janis of Emmetsburg, Iowa; his children, Jessica (Ryan) Libby of Minneapolis, Minn., and Bill (Kimberly) Burdick of Emmetsburg. He is survived by one grandchild, Caroline Burdick, and soon-to-be-second granddaughter, Charlotte Burdick. Surviving are parents Bob Sr. and Joyce Burdick; and siblings, Bob Jr. (Linda) Burdick and Sue (John) Pascador. He is survived by eight nieces and nephews; and countless friends.

He was preceded in death by his grandparents, TJ and Vi Stolen, Pierre and Ann Marsh and James Burdick.