Kailand Riker Burri

Kailand “Kai” Riker Burri, age 15, passed away peacefully July 11, 2025, surrounded by his loving family. Following an unexpected hospitalization and the discovery of liver failure, Kai was able to return home with the support of hospice care. In a remarkable and grace-filled five days, he spent meaningful time with family and friends, playing games, sharing laughter, and enjoying all his favorite foods in the comfort of his home.

Kai was born Aug 8, 2009 to parents Kelly Burri (Vander Ploeg) and Nicholas Burri who reside in Hudsonville, Michigan.

Kai had a natural gift for humor—he was always the jokester and loved making people laugh. As a child, he immersed himself in the imaginative worlds of Legos, graphic novels, and an ever-growing collection of quirky treasures. He had a genuine love for people and an enthusiasm for all that life had to offer. Kai was always eager to try new things, though his devotion to tacos and pizza never wavered.

In his teenage years, a new passion emerged: technology. From Pokémon cards and video games to his beloved “ultimate gamer setup,” he found endless joy in the digital world. Whether battling friends and cousins in Fortnite or building masterpieces in Minecraft, Kai always played with heart—and usually came out on top.

Kai also had a deep love for games and arts and crafts. He was incredibly creative, remarkably bright—and somehow, he almost always found a way to win. He especially loved to gamble (preferably with other people’s money!) and had surprising luck, often winning big on lottery scratch-offs.

Kai’s life was marked by countless doctor’s appointments, hospital stays, surgeries, and medical challenges, yet he faced each one with resilience, a sharp sense of humor, and an unwavering ability to find moments of joy and lightness amidst the struggle.

In addition to his loving parents, Kelly and Nick, Kai is survived by his amazing brother, Tegan; grandparents David and Marcia Vander Ploeg, and James and Cindy Burri; aunts and uncles Tracy and Randy Bass, Brian and Shannon Vander Ploeg, Doreen and Paul Huizinga, Jason and Tracy Burri, and Erin and Jack Woolf; and all his cousins—Gabby, Andrew, James, Ryan, Nhu, Emma, Shane, Joyah, Greta, Amber, Cal, Gabe, Owen, Zach, Cole, and Briana. He is also survived by his loyal and loving dog of 13 years, Marta.

We invite all who knew and loved Kai to join us in celebrating his life 11 a.m. Thursday, July 17, 2025 at Resurrection Life Church, 5100 Ivanrest Ave. SW (Door E/H), Grandville, Michigan. Family and friends are welcome to greet the family one hour prior to the service. In honor of Kai’s joyful spirit and vibrant personality, we encourage attendees to wear bright and colorful attire—despite black being his favorite color. The family welcomes memories and messages at www.cookcaresgrandville.com in their guestbook online.