Richard I. Burdick

Richard “Dick” I. Burdick, age 77, born on July 2, 1936 in New Diggens (White Oak Township) , WI son of the late Lois (Nee: Gray) and Harold Burdick passed away quietly on Sunday, October 13, 2013 at Wheaton Franciscan Hospital with his family by his side.

He is survived by his loving wife, Betty (Nee: Tuttle) Burdick and his daughters, Heather (Rick) Schaefer, Tammy (Dean) LaMarr; his grandchildren, Justin and Colette Schaefer, Cody and Ross LaMarr; his brother David (Donna) Burdick; nieces and nephews and great nieces and Nephews: David Burdick, Dawn Johnson, Matt Tuttle (Maria), Ginger Thiesen, Janelle Murphy, Zack Johnson, Samantha Thiesen and Nick Thiesen; other relatives and many dear friends. In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by his brother-in-law and sister-in-law Tom and Pat Tuttle.

Dick was a member of the Navel Reserves and a member of the First Presbyterian Church where he served as a Deccan and Elder of the church and enjoyed singing in the choir. Dick worked at Color Arts Inc for 45+ years. For recreation he loved camping and was a long standing member of the Southeastern Holiday Rambler Trailer Club and held many positions on the board. Dick also took great enjoyment spending time with his son-in-law Dean and grandsons working and restoring tractors and of course loved spending time with his “Betty Boop” who he cared for tirelessly for so many years… Family gatherings were always cherished by him as well. Nobody loved a good joke or a one liner better that Dick. He will be sorely missed by everyone that’s life he touched.

Funeral services will be held Thursday, October 17, 2013, 10:00 A.M. at the funeral home. Interment with full military honors will follow at West Lawn Memorial Park. Relatives and friends may meet with the family Wednesday at the funeral home from 4:00 P.M. until 7:00 P.M. and Thursday at the funeral home from 9:30 A.M. until time of service at 10:00 A.M. Memorials to the Fisher House have been suggested. Memorials to the Fisher House Foundation Inc., c/o Clement J. Zablocki VA Medical Center or the Alzheimer’s Foundation have been suggested.

The family would like to thank the many nurses and doctors that worked so hard over the last several months to help him… as well as the staff at Ridgewood Care Center for help they provided him to regain his strength so many times this summer.