Clarence Burda Jr.

Clarence E. Burda, Jr. better known to family and friends as “Junior”, of Stark, Minnesota, passed away on Friday March 4, 2011, at the Cambridge Memorial Center in Cambridge, MN at the age of 78. "Junior" was born on December 27, 1932 to Clarence E., Sr. and Helen V. (Olson) Burda at home in Fish Lake Township. He was the eldest of five boys. He attended school at the Reed Country School. As a young man, he worked for various farmers around Stark; which at that time there were plenty of them. At the age of 19, he started working at Crown Iron Works until two years later when he was drafted into the U.S. Army. Serving from 1953 to 1955 some of that time was spent in Korea. After his military service, Clarence returned to Crown Iron Works where he worked as an over-head crane operator until the plant closed in the mid 1980’s. Then he spent a few years at Spring Lake Plastics until his retirement. Among his favorite hobbies were fishing, working outside, and cutting wood. And boy, could he clean fish. He enjoys his nieces and nephews, especially if they wanted to go fishing with him on his favorite lake – Little Horseshoe Lake. He enjoyed his 32 year membership at the Oak leaf Grange #569 of Stark, where he helped maintain the building and grounds. He was preceded in death by his parents Clarence Sr. and Helen, brother Curtis and sister-in-law Patricia (Patty). He is survived by his best friend and brother Bruce of Stark; and brothers Richard (Janet) and Donald (Arlene) of Stark; nephews Timothy (Michelle) and James (fiancée Jessica); and nieces Angela (James), Michelle (David), Susan (special friend Charles), and Laura (Travis). Reverend Dale Stiles and Reverend Conrad Warner will be officiating at a funeral service at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, March 12, 2011 at Fish Lake Lutheran Church of Stark. The casket bearers are Timothy Burda, James Burda, Angela Burda-Riess, Michelle Mihail, Susan Burda, and Laura Swanson. The honorary casket bearers are Michele Burda, Jessica Lafontaine, James Riess, David Mihail, Charles Kern, and Travis Swanson. A time of visitation and reviewal is scheduled from 4-8 p.m. on Friday March 11, 2011 at the Olson Funeral Chapel in Rush City and one hour prior to the funeral services at the church. Military honors will be provided by the Harris American Legion with the interment in the Fish Lake Lutheran Cemetery next to the church. Funeral arrangements are entrusted to the Funeral and Cremation Service ~ Olson Chapel of Rush City, MN. www.funeralandcremationservice.com