April 2 1923 June 4 2019
Max Leroy Burdick, age 96, passed away peacefully at home on June 4, 2019. He was born April 2, 1923 in Moulton, Iowa to Stephen and Mary Elizabeth McClurg Burdick. He was married to Donalou Connell Burdick, and their children are Julie Ann Burdick Moffat (Ralph Randy) and Max Leroy Burdick Jr. (Cheri). He then married Dorothy Blanche Steele Burdick, and their children are Julie Burdick Gubler (Bill) and Jane Ann Day (John). Max learned to work hard at an early age, moving continually with his family. At age ten, he was a sheepherder, often alone for months up in the Star Valley Wyoming mountains. It was just him, a dog, a horse, and a flock of sheep. He was brought supplies once a month. At age 12, he was a milk truck driver. In his youth, he helped shear sheep, herd cows, farm, fix fences, and train horses. At age 14, he joined the ROTC and proudly wore a cap, uniform, and black tie. He finished ninth grade to work fulltime, and at age 16 joined the Navy with his parents’ permission. He made Chief Petty Officer within five years. Max was a survivor of WWII and Pearl Harbor. He served in the U.S. Navy on the U.S.S. St. Louis as a Gunners Mate. He was in Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941 when the Japanese attacked. At the 50th anniversary of Pearl Harbor, he was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor. After the war, Max worked as a journeyman plumber in Pocatello, Idaho and started Pocatello Plumbing and Supply. He maintained and expanded that business into Burdick Contractors which spanned a five-state region. He had division offices in Denver, Las Vegas, Phoenix and Sacramento. Of note, he laid the water and sewer pipeline for the Las Vegas Strip. Along the way, he obtained his pilot’s license with an IFR rating, which he used to fly to his division offices. Max was a devoted member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and contributed much to his church and community. He handed out hundreds of Books of Mormon and served in numerous callings. For years, he was in charge of the LDS Cattle Ranch in Grantsville,Utah. He was also instrumental in improving the baseball fields around Salt Lake. In recognition of his extensive service, the “Max Burdick Field” was named after him. Max ran his first marathon at age 54 and his first Ironman Triathlon in Kona, Hawaii at age 60. He then went on to run 20+ marathons and completed numerous traithlons until age 84, often winning first place in his age group. He thus was nicknamed, “Ironmax.” Max was an adventurous soul! In addition to flying, marathon and triathlon racing, Max was an avid dirt-bike rider, tennis player, golfer, skiier, dancer, hunter, fisherman, horse-rider, entrepreneur, inventor, health and wellness advocate and world-traveler, among many other things. Max was a loving and devoted father, grandfather and great-grandfather. He is dearly missed. He is survived by his four children, 28 grandchildren, 84 great-grandchildren and 4 great-great-grandchildren. He is preceded in death by three brothers and one sister and is survived by one brother Glenn Arthur Burdick (Joyce). To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Max Leroy Burdick Sr. please visit our Sympathy Store.
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Max Leroy Burdick Sr April 2 1923 June 4 2019.
Death notice for the town of: Salt Lake City, state: Utah