William Burch

William Burch ObituaryWilliam (Bill) Sigurd Burch, 76, of Colorado Springs, Colorado, passed away on Wednesday, May 7, 2025.
Bill was born in Denver, Colorado to Lillian Margaret Vaughn Burch and Reverend Sigurd Edwin Burch, Jr. on June 19, 1948. Bill spent his early life in Aspen, Colorado where his father was pastor of the Methodist Church. From Aspen, the family moved to Steamboat, Colorado where Bill began elementary school. His father's ministry led them next to Ely, Nevada, where Bill finished elementary school. Bill's junior high and high school years were spent in Colorado Springs, Colorado where he graduated from Palmer High School in 1966. After graduating from high school, Bill attended Adams State College. He married Karon Joan Downing on June 8, 1968, at Trinity Methodist Church in Colorado Springs. They made their home in Alamosa, Colorado where Bill finished his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1971.
Bill's work years were full and varied. He worked in construction, both new and remodel. He was a master craftsman and innovative designer. He could visualize, design and build the most complex structures. His company, Burch Building and Remodeling was very successful and he enjoyed his work. When Rheumatoid Arthritis struck, Bill knew his days in construction were numbered. He decided to go back to school when he was on a job swinging a hammer which slipped from his grip and went flying through the air. He attended The University of Colorado, Colorado Springs and earned his Master's degree in software engineering in 1995. He went on to work for MCI, World Com and Verizon. Due to his arthritis, he took an early retirement in 2009. In his retirement, he stayed busy with his eBay store where he bought and sold gaming components.
Bill was an adventurer. He loved hiking and mountain climbing and succeeded in climbing 49 out of the 53 fourteen-thousand-foot peaks in Colorado. As a young man in Colorado Springs, rock climbing became a passion. Many a weekend, you could find Bill in the Garden of the Gods on top of the highest rock. He took pride in scaling the Maiden in the Flatirons outside of Boulder, Colorado. He loved his motorcycles and in his youth, he enjoyed motocross and flying through the air to complete a jump. He loved snow skiing and fondly would recall his winters in Aspen and Steamboat where they could ski to school and church. Scouting was an important part of Bill's life. He earned his Eagle Scout and his God and Country in Troop 3 at Trinity Methodist Church. He became Scoutmaster for the same Troop 3 and led his scouts on many campouts, Freez-O-Rees, summer camps and World Jamborees. He became an outstanding adult leader/trainer through the Wood Badge experience.
Music was an integral part of Bill's soul. He was an excellent singer and guitar player. His voice was a magical cross between Neal Diamond and John Denver. While at college, his group, The Inev Trio, would entertain with their folk music in pizza parlors. During his scouting years, Bill formed a jug band with his fellow Scouters. They entertained at many scouting events.
Bill was an avid gamer. Magic, Dungeons and Dragons, and many strategic games were a weekly activity for Bill and his gaming group. One of his favorite games later on became Minecraft where he delighted in building and engineering redstone circuits to power his buildings and lighthouses. He loved playing interactively with family and running around in their realms building railroad systems.
Bill is survived by his wife, Karon Burch, his son Greg and daughter in law Tammy Burch, his daughter Andra and son-in-law David Jaccard, his grandchildren, Kaitlyn and Cassidy Burch, Ashley and Brianna Theisen, Alan and Zachary Brown, his sister Twilla Lambert, his brother Steve and sister-in-law Jossie Burch, his sister Kristi and brother-in-law Bill Waldman. He is preceded in death by his parents, Sigurd Burch and Lillian Lowery and his sister, Barbara Ward.
Bill's Celebration of Life will be held at 2:00 pm, Thursday, May 15, 2025, at Westside Global Methodist Church, 701 N 20th Street, Colorado Springs, CO 80904. Executive Pastor, Colin Fleming of Living Hope Creekside Church will be officiating.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be mailed to Westside Global Methodist Church, 701 N. 20th Street, Colorado Springs, CO, 80904 in memory of William Burch.
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William (Bill) Sigurd Burch, 76, of Colorado Springs, Colorado, passed away on Wednesday, May 7, 2025.
Bill was born in Denver, Colorado to Lillian Margaret Vaughn Burch and Reverend Sigurd Edwin Burch, Jr. on June 19, 1948. Bill spent his early life in Aspen, Colorado where his father was pastor of the Methodist C