Obituary: Robert Walter Burda

Robert Walter Burda, 67, of Brush Prairie, WA, died on May 3, 2023 after a heart attack.

Bob was born on April 24th to Joseph Paul Burda and Norma Agnes Kealey in Chicago, IL. After Bob graduated from Gibraltar High School in 1974, he worked in Sturgeon Bay, WI for Palmer Johnson. He left Wisconsin and began working in the yacht building industry in Vancouver, WA. That led him into a career in technical sales in the composites industry.

Bob married Joy Hofer in 1978 and had two children, Jordan Burda and Seth Burda. They eventually separated and Bob met Angela Devito, and her daughter Reva Devito. Bob and Angie were married in 1991 and celebrated their 32nd wedding anniversary this year.

Anyone who knew Bob, knows that he was a renaissance man. At an early age, he fostered a love of the water. You could find him sailing, fishing, water skiing, or doing anything outdoors. He cherished adventuring with Angie and fell in love with the spring blooms of the desert. He loved golfing with his favorite golfing partner, Ang. Bob and Angie loved camping together and traveled to remote locations all over the Pacific Northwest. Bob was a wine connoisseur and lover of delicious food. He could build you anything out of wood, and enjoyed tinkering in his shop. When he wasn’t in the shop, he was tending his beautiful gardens in Brush Prairie. He was an avid bird watcher and sourdough baker. Bob had a special place in his heart for his grandchildren, and they gave him tremendous joy.

Bob was predeceased by his parents, Joe and Norma Burda. He is survived by his beloved wife, Angela Devito, his children Jordan Burda, Seth Burda and Reva Devito, his son in law, Brice Secord, grandchildren, Evan Burda and Paloma Secord, siblings, Michael Burda, Diana Burda, Joseph Burda, Kathy Neinas, Patty Quinn, his dog River, and many friends across the country.

A celebration of life will be held in Brush Prairie on June 3rd. There will be another celebration of life in Wisconsin, with more details to come. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Doernbecher Children’s Cancer program https://kiwanisdoernbecher.org/

“Say not in grief ‘he is no more’ but in thankfulness that he was.”

Bob would have liked us all to remember that life isn’t about the destination, but the journey.