Prof. William D. Burdick, 78, Milton's foremost civic leader, died unexpectedly Sunday, March 21 in Mercy Hospital, Janesville, where he had been admitted on Tuesday after suffering a heart attack in his home at 533 E. High Street.
'Prof.' Bill, as he was known by several generations of residents and college students, was at the time of his death city assessor, the sixth office he had held in village government.
Prof. Burdick was Milton village president from 1949-1955 after serving 19 years as a village trustee. He had served as village clerk, village treasurer and as a member of the first joint sanitation commission.
The son of Rev. Willard D. and Genette West Burdick was born in Milton Junction Jan. 17, 1893. He attended school in Farina, Ill. before entering Milton College where he received his B. A. in 1915. He received his master's degree in 1926 from the University of Wisconsin. He served as professor of chemistry at Milton College from 1919 until his retirement in 1963 and had also served as acting president, business manager, department head and member of the board of trustees. He earned the Pillar of Milton award in 1962 from the Milton Alumni Association.
In the business world, he was director and assistant secretary-treasurer of the Milton Savings and Loan Association. He served the Milton Post Office as a part time clerk and operated a small apple orchard at his home as a hobby.
He had been an active church member throughout his life and had held many lay posts in the Seventh Day Baptist Church. At the time of his death he was the treasurer.
He was married to Erna L. Dudey in Hartland, Wis. and they had lived their entire life in Milton. The couple observed their 50th wedding anniversary in 1970. He was a World War I veteran, serving as a 2nd Lt. in the field artillery.
Surviving are his wife; a son, Dr. William L. Burdick, Kalamazoo, Michigan; a daughter Miss Ida Jean Burdick, Milwaukee; two grandchildren; one brother, Russell and a sister Miss Marjorie Burdick, both of Milton.
Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, March 24, from the Milton Seventh Day Baptist Church, the Rev. Earl Cruzan officiating. Burial was in the Milton Cemetery.
