John N. Burgess

John Neil Burgess, age 78 of West Branch, passed away at Bay Regional Medical Center in the early morning hours of Tuesday, May 3, 2011. John was born October 3, 1932 to John Lovell (Potty) and Alice (Itchue) Burgess of West Branch. John began his career serving his country in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. Upon his return, he tried his hand at a variety of professions before finding his calling in real estate. In 1968 he founded Burgess Real Estate where until his death, he was always on the lookout for the next deal. He was passionate about the outdoors, and was an avid hunter who loved to be in the woods. John married Kay Eleanore Dabbert in 1954, moving their family back to West Branch from Saginaw in 1968. They share two daughters, Linda (Michael) O’Connor of West Branch and Diane of Idaho. He is survived by his daughters and grandsons, James (Jennifer) Christenson and their children, Bradley and Kelsey of Virginia, Jon O’Connor and his fiancé Monica Cantea of Grand Rapids, Jeffrey O’Connor of Wolverine, his grandsons widow, Kaytea Christenson and her children, Verity and Brodan. He was preceded in death by his wife of 52 years, Kay in 2006, a grandson Robert Christenson in 2005, his sister Deborah Komara in 2006, brother Tom in 1978, step-sister Beverly in 1988, his father John in 1951 and his mother Alice in 1974. Visitation at the Steuernol & McLaren Funeral Home in West Branch will begin on Saturday, May 7, 2011 at 11:00 a.m. until the time of the service at 12:00 p.m. Family member Sally Seeley will officiate with burial following at Brookside Cemetery, West Branch. Memorial Contributions may be made to the Veterans Administration.