Obituary of Willys C. "Bill" Burdick

LITTLE FALLS – Mr. Willys C. “Bill” Burdick, age 88, a veteran of WWII, passed away peacefully on Monday morning, September 25, 2017, at Valley Health Services in Herkimer.

Born on July 26, 1929, Willys was the son of the late Roger S. and Hazel (Burgess) Burdick. He was raised in the Leonardsville area and attended local schools. A few months shy of his seventeenth birthday, Willys enlisted in the United States Army and proudly served his country overseas during WWII. He received his honorable discharge on April 24, 1947.

On August 21, 1948, he was wed to the former Betty Jane Foster and the two enjoyed almost 65 years of marriage, prior to Betty’s passing on January 23, 2013. Bill was a jack of all trades and a hardworking man, who spent the majority of his career in Property Management. He was a family man who was extremely proud of his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

He leaves behind his sons and daughters-in-law, Steven and Sandra Burdick of Little Falls, Darrell and Gloria Burdick of Mohawk, and Douglas and Deborah Burdick of West Edmeston; his daughters and son-in-law, Colleen Burdick and Suzann Burdick, both of Little Falls, and Geraldine and Dominick DeSiato of Orlando, FL; and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren, along with many siblings, nieces and nephews.

Besides his parents and wife, Betty, he was predeceased by his grandson, Dominick DeSiato, II in 2011.

The Burdick family bid their farewells during his last days, as they spent time with him and as family around his bedside. A graveside service with military honors will take place at Poland Cemetery at a later date and time.

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the Enea Family Funeral Home, 220 North Washington Street, Herkimer, NY (315) 866-1011, Harry and Kevin Enea and Martin L. Ciaccia, Funeral Directors.