James "Birch" J. Burczyk

James “Birch” Burczyk of Waukesha WI passed away peacefully on September 28, 2025 in the Arbor at Avalon Square in Waukesha WI. He was born in Milwaukee WI on October 16, 1942 to Joseph and Pauline Burczyk. In 1967 he married Marilee (Peterson) Burczyk at St. Mary Czestochowa Catholic Church in Milwaukee, WI. Jim is survived by his wife, Marilee and their three children Michael Burczyk, Jeanine (Todd) Stefanowski, Maureen (Brian) McGowan; grandchildren Connor McGowan, Madeline McGowan and Silas Stefanowski; along with many relatives and friends. He was predeceased by his parents and sister, Mary Jane Burczyk.

Jim attended St Casimir grade school, Messmer High School and University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. After graduation from UWM, Jim worked as an actuarial trainee at Northwestern Mutual Life, followed by a 19-year career as an IT Business Systems Analyst at Miller Brewing Company and retired from AT&T in 2008. He served reserve duty with the 440th Airlift Wing, United States Air Force at Mitchell Field, Milwaukee WI, from 1966 – 1975. Before and after retirement, Jim’s hobby was collecting trains, taking train trips and supporting trolley and train clubs in the Milwaukee area. He was a member of the Lionel Train Club, The Milwaukee Transit Archives & Museum, The Milwaukee Electric Railway & Transit Society (TMER&THS) and the Milwaukee County Historical Society.

Thank you to the staff at The Arbor at Avalon Square and Optage Hospice for their devoted care for Jim during his illness.

Services will be held on Wednesday, October 8, 2025 at Corpus Christi Parish – St. Mary Church, 225 S Hartwell Ave, Waukesha WI 53186. Visitation will be held from 10:00 until 11:00 a.m. Funeral Mass is at 11:00 a.m. A reception will follow and private interment will be at St. Joseph Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Avalon Square or Corpus Christi Parish-St. Mary in Jim’s name.