Gordon Joseph Burzinski

1926 - 2025

Gordon Joseph Burzinski

July 13, 1926 - February 23, 2025

Gordon J. Burzinski, 98, retired U.S. Marine Corps veteran and Department of Defense (DoD) employee, passed away peacefully Sunday morning February 23, 2025 of natural causes at his home in Manassas, Va. Gordon, the youngest of 4 sons, was born July 13, 1926 in La Crosse, Wisc. to Martin and Frances (Stremcha) Burzinski. The family later moved to Madison, Wisc. where he spent much of his formative years immersed in the activity around the railroad tracks and train depot. He developed a passion for railroading and steam locomotives which continued throughout his whole life.

Before finishing his senior year of high school, Gordon enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps in 1943 at age 17 to join his three older brothers in doing his part for the war effort. He later received an Administrative Diploma from Madison East High School in recognition of his enlistment. During WWII, Gordon participated in the Asian/Pacific Theatre of war with the 1st Marine Division combat operations on Peleliu (Palau Islands) and Okinawa and subsequent occupation duty in Tientsin, North China where the Division accepted the surrender of all Japanese military in that area and implemented their repatriation to Japan. Following his return stateside in April 1946, jobs were hard to find so he enlisted in the U.S. Army and became part of an engineer supply unit in Yokohama, Japan and then subsequently at a base near Seoul, South Korea. After his stint in the Army, he signed up with the Marine Corps Reserve and enrolled in the Minnesota School of Business with the goal of becoming a CPA. He met his wife, Marjorie "Marge" Tomiko Sakata, in Minneapolis, and they married on July 27, 1950. Gordon was recalled to active duty the next month in August 1950 following the start of the Korean Conflict. He joined the First Division in California and shipped out for South Korea to begin the push to Seoul. Later, while in North Korea, Gordon engaged the Chinese military and received serious combat wounds on November 3, 1950 during the Chosin Reservoir Operation. After unsuccessful reconstructive surgery on his left shoulder, he was retired from active duty the end of 1951 on permanent disability having lost almost all function of his dominant left arm and hand.

Gordon was a 1956 Phi Beta Kappa graduate of the University of Southern California where he earned both a BS Degree in Foreign Trade and a BA Degree in Asiatic Studies and Japanese Language. He also belonged to the Phi Kappa Phi and Beta Gamma Sigma Scholastic Honor Societies. Later, he received a MS Degree in Administration from George Washington University in Washington, D.C. and a MA Degree in Behavioral Science from the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. He also obtained a Certificate in Gerontology from George Mason University in Virginia.

He began his federal government career with the Naval Ordnance Test Station in Ridgecrest (China Lake), California in the human relations field and later transferred to Yokosuka, Japan for a 6-year assignment with the former Military Sea Transportation Service. Upon his return to the states, he attended the University of Iowa and eventually accepted personnel staff positions at Scott Air Force Base in Illinois and later on at Langley Air Force Base in Hampton, Va. This was followed by additional management assignments with the Defense Logistics Agency in Alexandria, Va. and subsequent transfer to the Labor Department in Washington, D.C where he retired from the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs in 1979.

Following his retirement from the Federal service, he was active in the field of mental health for many years. He was a residential group counselor with the Division of Mental Retardation in Alexandria, Va. and served as a volunteer in psychiatric social work with the disabled elderly at the Mount Vernon and Woodburn mental health centers.

Gordon was a member of the 1st Marine Division Association, the China Marine Association, the Disabled American Veterans, the International Society for Japanese Philately and the Gerontological Society of America. Additionally, he was an avid collector of brewery industry memorabilia and often participated in the Brewery Collectibles Club of America (BCCA) "canventions" held in various states. He thoroughly enjoyed studying and learning throughout his life on all topics, especially historical, cultural or science-related subjects. He had an abiding interest in Far Eastern culture in all aspects and took pleasure in studying the Japanese language particularly in its written character form. His favorite pastime involved translating Japanese newspaper articles to acquire greater insight. He was a perfectionist and always meticulous in whatever he did. He greatly enjoyed working around the house and in the yard taking a lot of pride in keeping them well-maintained. He stayed in shape taking 2-hour walks always scanning the ground with his eagle eyes for that unmistakable glint of a coin. Having lived through the Great Depression, he knew the importance and value of even a penny. He used to say "You find 100 pennies; you have a whole dollar!"

Gordon was preceded in death by his parents Martin Burzinski and Frances (Stremcha) Burzinski; his wife Marjorie Tomiko (Sakata) Burzinski; and three brothers Lester (Hazel), Robert (Helen) and Harvey (Beverly) Burzinski. He is survived by three children, a son Ronald Burzinski; two daughters Linda (Jean-Noel) Lebat and Dina (Franck) Mazeas; five grandchildren Bram, Nicolas, Joshua, Christophe, Alexandra and a great grandson Tim. He leaves behind his cousin, Victor (Barbara) Kampa; his sister-in-law Fumiko (Ken) Nakamura; his brother-in-laws, Takeshi Sakata and Stanley Yonamine; and many nieces and nephews with a special thought to Ruth Pasley, Karen Burzinski, Cindy Bernau, Brian Pasley and Kristy Chandler as well as to a very cherished life-long family friend in Japan, Takane-san.

His remains along with the remains of his wife, Marjorie, of 66 years will be interred at the Manassas City Cemetery, 9317 Center St, in Manassas, Va. in close proximity to the railroad tracks where he will always hear that train whistle blow. The burial with military honors has been set for Friday November 14, 2025 at 11 a.m. in coordination with Pierce Funeral Home and Cremation Services in Manassas, Va. (703) 257-6028.