Anita Faye Burck

Anita Faye Burck, born October 5, 1924, passed away peacefully May 17, 2024 in the midst of another spring. ‘Nita’ was the first child of Vera Mae and Zachary Taylor Dulworth. Born and raised in Jackson MI, she helped rear her five younger siblings as her industrious and creative parents worked multiple jobs during the Depression and war years. It was at Jackson High School that she first met her future husband, Richard ‘Dick’ Burck, though they didn't seriously date until after the war. Nita and Dick would eventually settle in Ann Arbor and raise five children during their 43 years of marriage.

Nita attended Siena Heights college, and left when WWII started so she could operate a metal lathe and drill press in a factory that made parts for B24 bombers. After her shifts, she'd often volunteer to roll bandages that were shipped to hospitals in Europe. During this time her picture was entered in an infantry contest called “The Girl I want to Come Home to,” and Anita was crowned the Queen of the Infantry. Before long, her picture was posted in newspapers across the nation, catching the eye of John Roberts Powers who invited her to New York City to become a Powers Girl model. She took a train east and moved into the Barbizon Hotel for Women where she lived for the next two years while she modeled and worked as a fabric buyer for B. Altman.

Nita returned to Michigan just as the war was ending and became a manager for Consumers Powers in Hudson, MI, where she lived until she married Dick. His career required them to move frequently, giving Nita’s industrious nature and sense of style a chance to shine as she set up new homes in several towns–including Levittown, PA, Kirkwood, MO, and Upper St. Clair, PA– while caring for their growing family. Wherever Nita and Dick lived, they quickly made new friends and hosted fabulous dinner parties. All of their homes were known as a place where young and old could drop in anytime for a chat or a meal. One friend commented that Anita’s homes were like her — welcoming, elegant, and charming. Throughout this busy period of her life, she still found the time to teach Sunday School, volunteer at her children’s schools, and tend to her rock gardens.

In 1964 the family moved to Ann Arbor, MI. Once again she and Dick were at the heart of social events, from international gourmet clubs to duplicate bridge. As the children grew, Anita went to work as a graphic artist/photographer for the U-M Department of Surgery. Although the position was newly created, she quickly became an integral part of the staff, working closely with doctors to produce thousands of pictures and slides for various publications and lectures. Nita also became the unofficial historian of the Surgery Department, and took great care to search out, document, and oversee the repairs and display of many historical portraits.

Anita retired in 1991 and Dick died two years later, but there was still so much to do! In her 70's, Nita became a docent at the U-M Museum of Art. In her 80’s she became a certified Master Gardener and a docent at U-M's Botanical Gardens, and in her 90’s her gardens were featured on Farm & Garden’s Ann Arbor Garden Walk. At 99 she planted Ann Arbor’s first pocket forest in her yard with the help of her granddaughter. During these years she spent as much time as possible with her grandchildren, who were the light of her life. She also traveled more frequently with many of her friends, including trips to Ireland, Turkey, China, South Korea, Finland, Russia and Italy.

Anita took great delight in her relationships with others. As one friend recently said, “every neighbor was a friend, every friend was a gem, every business acquaintance was esteemed, and every family member was her favorite.” And in turn, she enriched the lives of everyone around her in simple but meaningful ways. She was a true original, a smart, elegant, funny, generous woman who lit up rooms with laughter and her trademark hospitality. Her bright blue eyes looked on life as an adventure, and she lived it to the fullest.

Anita was predeceased by her parents; siblings Jack, Bill, Jim, Ed, and Carolyn Sue Dulworth; her husband Dick Burck; and daughter Barbara Burck. Survivors include her children Jim Burck and his children Taylor and Liam; Skip Burck (Alice Hecht) and their son Sam; Beverly (Jeff) Prenevost and their children Lottie, Beau and Claire; Cindy (Glenn) Bourland and their children James and Ella; son-in-law Tom Johnsmiller; and numerous adoring nieces, nephews, in-laws, and dear friends.

A private celebration of Anita’s life will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to one of the many organizations Nita supported over the years, including Bird Center of Michigan, Planned Parenthood, and Ann Arbor Farm & Garden.