Will J. Burdess

Will J. Burdess

April 2, 1964 – November 23, 2024

Will Burdess, our brother, uncle, and friend, passed away peacefully at home on November 23, 2024, after battling COPD for as long as he was able.

Born in Ogden, Utah, he attended Kanesville Elementary, Wahlquist Jr High, and graduated from Weber High School in 1982. He lived fearlessly, fishing, hunting, camping, arrowhead hunting, and enjoyed pretty much anything outdoors in nature, including outdoor rock concerts!

He worked as a chef and bartender at the Weber Club, he was a limousine driver, and he worked with his sister for many years in a home cleaning business. He never married or had children, so his nieces and nephews became his everything. He was called Uncle Will by everyone. When you say it quickly it’s Unc-Will, and that morphed into just cWill and eventually we affectionately called him Quill. He attended soccer matches, cheer events, baseball games, and was always present at birthday parties and lots of family gatherings. Because he was always there, his physical absence will be very noticeable, though his spirit for fun and adventure will always be with us in all we do.

He taught us how to make sand castles, the right way; how to build a lean-to for shelter in the wilderness; he could walk on his hands up the stairs, and back down again; he could cliff dive off the rocks into the water at Causey and Lake Powell; he made the best ramps and jumps for snow tubing; he golfed and snow skied; he knew all the great hiking trails and we followed him everywhere.

An expert rockhound, he studied and knew a lot about minerals and rocks. He was enamored with arrowheads and had a great respect and reverence for the Native American culture in our area. He became a self-taught flint knapper, using the traditional method of shaping arrowheads and other tools out of rock and glass by striking flakes off a stone to create sharp edges. He was proud to share that knowledge and could often be heard at family parties talking about flint stones, obsidian, jasper and all the uniqueness of quartz and crystals. He would give the kids minerals and rocks that he gathered, including arrowheads he had made. He told us Native Americans would give arrowheads to loved ones as a symbol of strength to protect them and give them courage.

We enjoyed learning from him all about his knowledge of the geology and native people of this area. Ogden with all its history was one of his favorite places, but he also really enjoyed Lake Shasta in California, hunting and fishing trips in Wyoming and Idaho, and the most special place on earth for him was the Uinta mountains. This is where family camping trips made the memories that will last well beyond his years.

He was sentimental and kept every note, card, drawing and tiny object that sparked a memory of a happy experience. He lived for the moment and knew how to have a good time.

As much fun as this life was for him, Will missed his mom and dad, his grandma, and his dog, who all made it to heaven before he did. His struggle with COPD was real. He made the best of it, carrying around that portable oxygen tank like a pet when he was out and about. Eventually his body wore out, and this became the year he went “home” for the holidays. We miss him so much already, but we find comfort in knowing he is now with relatives again who he had been missing for a long time. Our wish for Will is that he will reunite with loved ones, run with his dog without getting winded, and listen to ZZ Top forever. Turn it up to 11, Quill.

Will is survived by five siblings Jaylene Larsen, Abbie Powers, Eber (Raelene) Burdess, Noey Burdess, and Darrin Burdess, as well as 13 nieces and nephews along with 29 great-nieces and nephews, and 3 great-great nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents James William Burdess and Hazel Marie Davis Burdess, as well as two brother-in-laws, Steven Arlo Larsen and Henry Shinji Endow, and a great niece, Tylee Jean Rhees.

Family and friends are invited to gather for a Celebration of Life held in Will’s honor on Thursday, December 12, from 7 to 9 p.m. in the Community Room at Lindquist Reception Center, 3434 Washington Blvd in Ogden.

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