Bruce Burdick
1946 — 2022
If Bruce G. Burdick could have chosen where and when to leave this earthly realm, it likely would have been a sunny, mild day, with a 3 wood in his hands preparing to slam a drive down a fairway at the Hobble Creek Golf Course in Springville, Utah. In addition to being a very proud father and, still yet, prouder “Papa” and “Gramps” to 16 extraordinarily beautiful grandchildren, Bruce was a golfer, intense sometimes frustrated, but never-give-up-getting-better golfer.
Bruce Gordon Burdick, born October 4, 1946, in the small mining community of Hiawatha, Utah, died unexpectedly on July 27, 2022, at his long-time residence in Provo, Utah. He was 75 years old. Bruce was the second son of Bernell Olsen Burdick, a beautician, and Alden L. Burdick, Sr., a coal miner of Hiawatha, Utah. The family continued to live in Hiawatha adding two more siblings. When Bruce was 12, his dad left the mines and moved the family to find more opportunities. As a result, the family lived in Idaho, Missouri and West Des Moines, Iowa, where Bruce graduated from high school.
Bruce became fluent in Finnish at 19 years of age when he lived with a Finnish family for 6 months in preparation for two years of a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Having learned to play the piano as a child and young adult, Bruce learned the hard version of the Finnish anthem, “Finlandia” and was always proud to play it for years after being in Finland.
On his return, Bruce moved to Provo. Utah and resided there and Orem, Utah until his death. He attended Brigham Young University and began a career as an accountant. He married Vicki Charon, of Des Moines, Iowa after he met her on a visit to his parents who were still in West Des Moines. Bruce and Vicki were married for 23 years, raised four children and two step children. Vicki (Orem, UT) survives Bruce as does all of his children: Shannon Burdick (Columbus, MS); Derek, his wife Apreal (Naples, FL.); Stephanie, her husband Richard Marcov (Mapleton, UT); Jared (Orem, UT); Paul Miller, his wife April (Salt Lake City area, UT); and Brian Miller (Salt Lake City area, UT).
His 16 grandchildren, who could all bring a proud smile to his face, also survive him. Children of Shannon Burdick: Mary Jane (Auburn, NY); Kaden, Eliza, Millie, Tabitha (Columbus, MS). Children of Derek and Apreal: Aubrey, Kimberly, Carson, Rhett, Finn (Naples, FL); Children of Stephanie and Richard: Anistyn, Cameran, Taft (Mapleton, UT). Child of Paul and April: Ben (Salt Lake City area, UT). Children of Brian: Winter, Nick (Salt Lake City area, UT).
Bruce ‘s three siblings are all still living: Alden (“Butch”), his wife Michelle (Dubois, Wy); Kenneth (Omaha, Neb); Christine, her spouse Kathleen (Santa Cruz, CA). His father and mother predeceased him in 2002 and 2003.
Bruce’s family thanks everyone who has touched his life over the years.
For more information and to leave condolence please visit www.bergmortuary.com/obituaries. No public memorial service will be held. A private memorial service will be scheduled for a future date.