Elmer Martin Burdick

Elmer Martin "Al" Burdick was born in Detroit, Michigan on January 17, 1926. He was the youngest of 4 children born to Harry and Alice (Lebring) Burdick. He grew up in Detroit and joined the United States Navy in 1944 on his 18th birthday. He took his training at the Great Lakes Naval Training Center in Illinois and then transferred to the SeaBees base in Port Hueneme, CA for Amphibious training. During World War II, Al was assigned to SeaBees Unit ACORN 34 (Aviation, Ordinance, Radio & Radar, Navigation) and was sent ahead of Fleet Airwing 17 to construct runways and bases for the aircraft to utilize. Eventually, Acorn 34 would be assigned to Clark Air Base located on the Island of Luzon, Philippines. At the end of 1945 his unit traveled to Manila to help rebuild that city. He was discharged in 1946, and reenlisted in the Naval Reserves from 1947 to 1949.

Al met his wife Patricia (Smith) in 1949 and they were married in 1951. During this period Al worked for UPS. In 1955 he reenlisted to active duty and remained in the Navy until his retirement in 1973 to the Naval Fleet Reserve. While in the Navy, Al was stationed at Grosse Ile, MI.; Los Alamitos, CA.; NAS Twin Cities, MN and Selfridge Air Base near Mt. Clemens, MI. He and Pat settled in California after his retirement. Al was able to pursue one of his favorite hobbies, electronics, which became his second career for the next 18 years working with RCA and retiring from General Electric in 1991. Not liking to remain idle for any length of time, after his second retirement, Al worked many odd jobs including bar-tending at the Elks Lodge and VFW in Adelanto, CA, and driving RV's across the country for buyers. During one of his many trips, Al discovered the hill country of Texas, fell in love with the area, and settled there for 13 years. He enjoyed fishing, dancing, swimming, ice skating, boating, bowling, football, working in the yard and around the house. He loved traveling back and forth across the country. He loved meeting new people, had a positive zest for life and an infectious sense of humor. Al moved back to Minnesota in 2009 to be closer to family.

Al is survived by 4 children: Pamela Farmer of Burnsville, MN; Steven Burdick of Running Springs, CA; Carol Bailey and son-in-law Jim, of Dennison, MN and Kathleen Bell and son-in-law Chris, of Garden Grove, CA. 8 grandchildren, Kristine, Sharon, April, Mary, Pattie Donna, Amber and Christian. 9 great-grandchildren and 3 great-great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by Patricia, his wife of 34 years; his parents; his sisters, Wilma and Hilda, and brother Harry.