Memorial
John H. Burdakin, retired president of Grand Trunk Western Railroad and a longtime resident of Bloomfield Hills, MI, died Sept. 11, 2014, at Cottage Grove Place in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. He was 92.
John Howard Burdakin was born Aug. 11, 1922, in Milton, Mass., to L. Richard and Martha (Rogers) Burdakin. He graduated from MIT in 1947 after completing military service and married Jean Moulton on Oct. 2, 1948 in Milton, Mass. They lived in 16 cities in 23 years as Mr. Burdakin’s career advanced with the Pennsylvania Railroad. In 1960-61 Mr. Burdakin managed the Panama Canal Railroad in the Canal Zone for 15 months. The Burdakins moved to Michigan in 1970, and Mr. Burdakin served as president of the Detroit-based Grand Trunk Western from 1974 to 1986 before retiring as vice-chairman of Grand Trunk Corporation in 1987.
In 1992, Mr. Burdakin became the first railroader to be inducted into the Michigan Department of Transportation’s Hall of Honor. He and his wife lived in Bloomfield Hills, where they were longtime members of the Northbrook Presbyterian Church and Bloomfield Hills Country Club. They spent 20 winters in Naples, Florida. Mr. Burdakin volunteered at William Beaumont Hospital and served on the hospital’s Board of Trustees for many years.
The Burdakins moved to Colorado Springs in 2010. Mr. Burdakin moved to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, in October 2013.
Mr. Burdakin was dearly loved by the family he cherished. He is survived by three sons: Dr. John (Cynthia) Burdakin, Jr. of Denver, Dave (Kim) Burdakin of Chicago and Muscatine, IA, and Dan (Cheryl) Burdakin of Atlanta, six grandchildren: Julia Burdakin (Brian) Privett of Cedar Rapids, Michael Burdakin, Thomas Burdakin, Nicole Burdakin, Jenna Campbell (Kris) Dietrich and Brittany Campbell, and one great-grandson: Evan Privett. Preceded in death by his beloved wife, parents and two sisters
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Send any memorials to: Boys & Girls Club of Southeast Michigan
26777 Halsted Rd., Suite 100, Farmington Hills, MI 48331
Or:
Northbrook Presbyterian Church
22055 W. 14 Mile Road, Beverly Hills, MI 48025.
A Celebration of Life will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 4, at Northbrook Presbyterian Church, 22055 W. 14 Mile Road, Beverly Hills, MI. Funeral home is Cedar Memorial in Cedar Rapids.