James Edward Burdick

Jim passed away Wednesday, March 27, 2013 at his home in rural Spencer, IA following a two year battle with cancer. James Edward Burdick, the son of Clifford F. and Della Mae (McNett) Burdick was born March 23, 1943 in Spencer, IA. His childhood years were spent on a farm just west of Ruthven, IA where he attended school, graduating as salutatorian of his class from Ruthven High School in 1961. Jim was also involved in 4-H and FFA during his school years. Jim married Susan Kay Rusch on May 8, 1964 at Grace United Methodist Church in Spencer, IA. They lived in Spencer for 13 years and then purchased an acreage NW of Spencer where they have lived for 36 years. During his career, Jim worked in a variety of occupations which to each he brought his special talents: a lathe operator and welder at National Spencer; a glazier and fabricator at Spencer Glass Company, as the tree and sod farm nursery foreman for Del's Garden Center and as a baler operator at Shine Bros. until his retirement in 2004 due to health reasons. Jim also served two years in the Army (1966-1968), spending one year of that time in Vietnam. Jim was a farmer at heart and loved working on the acreage, restoring old tractors, designing and using his welding skills to make small equipment, horseback riding, reading, gardening and in his younger years was an avid sportsman and bowled on a league. Jim had a great sense of humor and loved to tease family and friends. He always had a ready laugh and smile. He will be greatly missed by family and friends. Jim was a member of Grace United Methodist Church in Spencer. Jim was preceded in death by his parents, his maternal grandparents, Charles E. and Frances Everett McNett and his paternal grandparents, Clinton and Bessie M. Press Burdick. Left to cherish his memory are his wife, Susan of Spencer, a brother, Adrian (Paula) Burdick of Forest Lake, MN, a brother-in-law, Morris (Judy) Rusch of Hartley, his father-in-law, Wilbert Rusch of Hartley, three nieces, Sarah Burdick of LaCrosse, WI; Amanda Rusch of Wayne, NE, Elizabeth (Matt) Morris of Fairmont, MN, other relatives and friends.

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