Bart Bourdo

A very salt of the earth kind of man, Barton Bourdo was a hard worker even from his earliest moments. The man he grew into reflected this fact, as he was a stable, thorough and dependable man people were proud to know.

As the United States was celebrating a time of temporary peace and prosperity between the two world wars, Emmett and Bessie (Shoemaker) Bourdo had a celebration of their own with the birth of their son, Barton Emmett, on September 24, 1925. Bart grew up in the Delton, Michigan area along with his two brothers, Raymond and Eugene, and sister, Maxine. He was 20 when he enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1945, and after his extensive training at Fort Sheridan in Illinois, Fort McClellan in Alabama and Fort Riley in Kansas, he was deployed from Camp Anzer, California for active duty in Japan until World War II ended in 1946.

Upon his honorable discharge, Bart returned home to his family in Delton and soon fell in love with a lovely young lady named Helen Boulter. The two were happily married on June 23, 1948, and had two wonderful children together: Jonette Ruth and Roderick Scott. Sadly, Bart lost Helen on February 17, 1978, after 30 years of marriage.

When not being a devoted husband and father, Bart was a hardworking potato farmer in the Gun Marsh area. He gave it up though after 26 years and moved to sunny Fort Lauderdale, Florida, where he started his own roofing company. During this time, Bart also found love again when he met Madge (Camelin) Vander Weide, and they were married on August 24, 1979. Madge brought more than just her love into Bart’s life though; she had three children of her own, and Bart happily welcomed them into the family. After 17 years in the roofing business, Bart finally retired and decided he wanted to spend his retirement years back in Michigan near his family. Once here, Bart was one to be idle and began farming a fruit orchard for another 9 years before really retiring.

All who knew Bart Bourdo will treasure his memory.

Barton E. Bourdo, age 83 of Kalamazoo, MI, died on Monday, May 4, 2009, at Kairos Dwelling. Visit with his family and friends on Thursday, May 7, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at Life Story Funeral Home, Plainwell; 120 S. Woodhams (685-5881). A Funeral will be held on Thursday at 12:00 p.m. at the same location.

Bart was preceded in death by his first wife, Helen Boulter Bourdo, and his brother, Raymond Bourdo. Members of his family include his wife, Madge; his son, Rod (Peggy) Bourdo; his daughter, Jonette Bourdo; his step children: Lynda (Jeff) Nelson, Cathy (Doug) Dusseljee, Chris Vander Weide; 11 grandchildren, 4 great grandchildren; his sister, Maxine Shepard; his brother, Eugene (Dottie) Bourdo; and several nieces and nephews. Please visit Bart’s memory page at www.lifestorynet.com where you may share a memory or photo with his family or sign his online guest book. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Living Stream Ministry Building 8 Project or Kairos Dwelling.