Obituaries 01/09/25

Howard Burgdorf, 97

(November 19, 1927-

December 30, 2024)

Howard Burgdorf, 97, died peacefully December 30, 2024, after several years with dementia. Born and raised in Chicago, his artistic talents bloomed early, and in high school, he sketched for the local newspaper. He loved ice cream, so he used the excuse of picking up his sisters, Renelda and Millie, from their workplace at an ice cream shop so he could have some ice cream himself!  Still in his 90’s, his frequent ritual included visits to “What’s the Scoop?” in Buffalo. 

He attended Bethany Lutheran College in Mankato where he needed special permission from the dean to skip graduation ceremonies to attend his own wedding to a fellow student, Sherry Jordahl.  He then graduated from the University of Illinois Urbana with a bachelor’s in graphic arts. Howard and Sherry moved back to Minnesota, and he started RKB Studios in Minneapolis with a couple of other artists and settled in Bloomington where they raised their three boys on the river bluff. His favorite place, however, was hiking and painting on the North Shore where he used his artistic creativity in turning run-down shacks into wonderful cabins. He was great at visualizing what something could become and helping other people become better as well. There were some hard times with Sherry and then the grief of her death and loss of their oldest son, Mark, but Howard’s trust in God gave him strength, which was reflected in Bible verses he chose to incorporate into his art. 

Art was central to his life, showing up in everything he did. He sketched and painted wherever he went traveling worldwide, including visiting Heifer Project in Africa, teaching English in China at age 78, and building Habitat-like houses in Jamaica in his 80’s. After moving to Buffalo, he helped create the Buffalo Art Guild and donated art to multiple fundraisers for causes he believed in. Howard’s family published a book sampling his art from over 2,000 pieces of art. He designed the Buffalo Community Orchestra logo and a drawing of the BHS PAC. Howard’s art is displayed at the Buffalo Library, Buffalo Hospital, Allina Buffalo Crossroads Clinic, Parkview Care Center, Zion Lutheran, Buffalo Presbyterian Church, and on the colorful buffalo sculpture seen for many years in downtown Buffalo. 

Survived by sister, Millie Burmeister; sons, Eric (Kathy), Andrew (Sherilyn); grandchildren, Esther (Jon) Yunkin, Rebekah (Paul) Ward, Hannah Burgdorf, Amanda (Ben) Burgdorf, Michael (Kiki) Burgdorf, and Owen Burgdorf-Hibbs; great-grandchildren, Joshua, Caleb, Matthew, and Daniel Yunkin; and extended family and friends.

Memorial service: Zion Lutheran Church, Buffalo on Saturday, January 11, at 1:00 p.m. immediately followed by open house visitation at Zion to share Howard stories. Livestream will be at https://www.youtube.com/live/t1fyh 9oH4sc 

James Jorgenson, 78

James David Jorgenson, age 78, of Buffalo, MN, passed away on December 27, 2024.

James was born the son of Bernard and Leona (Bakke) Jorgenson on December 18, 1946, in Fairmont, MN.

James is survived by his spouse, Charlene (Ernesti) Jorgenson; children, Jenelle Flynn, Nicole (Brad) Fadden, and Jason Jorgenson; grandchildren, Madalynn, Garrett, Emily, and Olivia; siblings, Arlys (Bill) LaPlant and Tom Jorgenson; also, nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. 

He is preceded in death by his father, Bernard; mother, Leona; and sisters, Carolyn, Judy, and Gwen.

There will be a Celebration of Life on January 26, 2025, from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. at Huikko’s Bision Creek Event Center, 1207 Hwy. 25, in Buffalo.