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Joseph John Bursack (Johnny), 88 years, passed away peacefully on January 16th at Miller Dwan Hospital in Duluth, Minnesota. He was born at home on May 12th, 1933, in Wildwood Township, Minnesota. John graduated from Northome High School in 1951. He was drafted in the Army in 1953 and served honorably for two years in Korea and Japan. He returned to Northome in 1955 and worked on road construction and did logging in the winter months. He married Judy Schirmer on August 31st, 1957, and they made their home in Richfield, Minnesota and returned to Northome in 1958 and they had their first child, Michael. In 1962, John joined his brother-in-law, Ray Hahn, on the north shore, to become a full-time logger. Kristin and Jack joined the family several years later and they raised their family in Schroeder, Minnesota.
John retired from logging in 1992 and then worked for Hedstrom Lumber Company. In 1998, they sold their home in Schroeder so they could enjoy their winters in Palmetto, Florida. During the summer, they would return to their cabin at Lamb’s Campground and John would spend his days working and golfing at Superior National. They moved back to Northome in 2006 and enjoyed many great years with their friends. In November 2018, they moved to Duluth, Minnesota to live near their children.
Johnny is preceded in death by his father, Jack, step-father, Dick Bender, his mother, Clara, sisters, June and Louise, brothers in-law, Ray Hahn, Ken McMillan, Darrow Gibbs, Tom Cooper, sisters-in-law, Barbara Gibbs and Kathleen Cooper, nieces, Carole Hahn and Beverly Bright, and nephew, Raymond McMillan. He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Judy, his children, Mike, Kristin (Paul) Norlander, Jack (Mia), eleven grandchildren, six great grandchildren and many nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews.
John will best be remembered by his magnetic smile, sense of humor, playing cribbage, his love for “real” country music and singing. He will be greatly missed. A celebration of life is being planned for a later date.
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