Steven Burdick

Steve Burdick was the kind of man who had a nickname for everyone he met. He loved to tease people, to poke fun or just share a laugh. Steve was a man who simply loved life, and wanted everyone around him to enjoy it, too. He was many things to so many people, a son, a brother, a stepfather, a grandfather, and friend, but more than anything, Steve was a man who brightened the lives of all who knew him.

Steve's story began on a hot summer day in 1959, in the shoreline city of Benton Harbor, Michigan. Those were turbulent times in this country, a country still growing, with the addition of Alaska and Hawaii that year, and a country still struggling, for racial equality, fighting a Cold War and the Vietnam Conflict, as well. Yet on August 27, 1959, Merle and Ava (Halsey) Burdick found reason to celebrate, with the birth of their first child, a baby son they named Steven.

It was clear Steve would be a good-natured, fun-loving man even when he was a baby, as he was such a cute, chubby little guy, very content and well-behaved. He was the oldest of five children in the family's home, joining his little brother Scott, and little sisters MariAnne, Amy, and Kathryn. When Steve was just three years old, the family packed up and left Benton Harbor, moving to Grand Rapids and later Hudsonville nearby, where he was raised.

Steve grew up in a very close-knit family, and despite being the oldest, he was very close to his younger siblings (though he did do his share of teasing, of course). As a young boy he developed a great love for the outdoors, from trapping, to hunting, to fishing.

Steve was a bright young man, though he did well in school only in the subjects that interested him. If he didn't like the course or the teacher, he lost interest, and as a result his report cards consisted of only A's or D's.

Throughout his high school years, Steve worked at Dykehouse Greenhouse. After graduation, he took a job at the Hubbel Company. There he met a beautiful young coworker named Rosa Martinez, and the two formed a friendship and began dating, and were married in 1984. Later Steve went to work at the Haworth Company, one of the worlds largest manufacturers of office furniture and has work there for over twenty years.

Rosa brought four children into the marriage, Antonio, Maria, Anna and Lucia, and Steve loved them like his own. He loved those kids, loved being a dad, and of course, loved to play with them, tease them, and think up funny nicknames for them all. When his stepchildren had children of their own, Steve adored them, too, and always kept candy around the house to give his grandkids and nieces and nephews when he saw them. Steve's marriage to Rosa ended in 1994, but he remained close with the kids and grandkids afterward.

Steve was close to so many people, and being the friendly, funny and social guy he was, he made friends easily. He was very loyal and hardworking, and even more generous, which made him a great coworker and friend. He was also well-read and a news junkie, and enjoyed talking politics, regardless if you agreed with him or not. Being a little stubborn, Steve's opinion wasn't swayed very often, but he enjoyed a good debate as much as anything.

Steve enjoyed so many things in life, and was a world-class eater, as well. He loved all kinds of food, especially Mexican, pizza, apple pie and cheesecake, or any food anybody would bring him! He also loved to cook, and was quite a good chef, too.

Steve was also a lifelong sports nut, who followed his Detroit pro sports teams faithfully, through good times and bad. As he dealt with illness later in life, he enjoyed his teams more than ever. He got a great thrill out of watching the Detroit Tigers pitch a no-hitter the night before he sadly died, on Wednesday June 13, 2007, at the Hospice House of Holland. He was 47.

Steve was a wonderful, fun-loving man, a man who loved his life and the people around him. He found so much enjoyment from the simplest things in life, from a song on the radio, to a good meal, to the way he made you laugh at the nickname he gave you. Most of all, Steve found so much enjoyment in just sharing with people, sharing his life, and sharing his love. What a great gift it was. He will be greatly missed.

Steve is survived by a stepson , Antonio Rios of Holland, stepdaughters, Maria (Gabriel) Garcia, Anna Rios and Lucia Rios all of Holland, seven grandchildren, his parents Merle and Ava Burdick of Jamestown, a brother, Scott (Debra) Burdick of Kentwood, sisters, MariAnne (Chris) Christman of Hudsonville, Amy (Gary) Marschner of Hudsonville, and Kathryn (Dan) White of Jamestown. The family will receive friends 6-9 P.M Friday at the Northwood Chapel of the Dykstra Life Story Funeral Homes, 295 Douglas Ave, Holland. Funeral services will be held 1:00 P.M Saturday at the funeral home. Memorial may be given to International Aid or Hospice of Holland. Please visit www.lifestorynet.com. to read Steve's life story, leave a memory for the family or sign the guest register.