Maxwell "Max" Vernon Burggraaf

Maxwell Vernon Burggraaf
"Max"

1918 – 2017

Max passed away peacefully at home on January 12, 2017, from incidents due to age. He was born to Samuel Burggraaf and Bernice "E" Ditch Burggraaf on July 17, 1918, in Ottumwa, Iowa, eldest of 3 children. After High School, Max joined the US Navy in 1936 and served as a Lieutenant (j.g.) USN until WWII was over in 1945, being at Pearl Harbor during the attack on December 7, 1941.  He married Orpha Francom in 1939, the mother of his 3 children. Orpha died in 1948. As a child, Max was always interested in electricity, which continued in the Navy, and until he obtained a degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Utah. After graduation he married Margaret Cameron Condie, and moved to Massachusetts and New York with his family to work for GE. In 1957 they moved back to Salt Lake City to work for Sperry Rand Corporation, finishing his working career as Manager of the Salt Lake Medical Clinic. Margaret died in early 1993. He married Shirley Olson Christensen in August of 1993 and his family extended to 3 more daughters. Shirley preceded him in death in August of 2015. Max was a faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter­ day Saints serving in many callings, including working in the Salt Lake Temple for many years. Throughout his life he was always very active and motivated, eager to learn and participate in new things with a passion to do well at whatever he undertook, including such things as ham radio, master gardening, hunting, fishing and traveling the world. His loss of eyesight and hearing later in life are the only things that slowed him down.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother (Paul), sister (Jean), and 3 wives. He is survived by his children, Samuel (Farelyn) Burggraaf, Rebecca (Glenn) Setterberg, Susan (Larry) Glavinic; Shirley's daughters, Cheryl (Brian) Bullock, Diane (Stephen) Jones, Robyn (Bryan) Hansen; and many, many grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Viewing January 20, 2017, from 6:00-7:30 pm, Russon Brothers Mortuary, 255 S 200 E, Salt Lake City UT. Funeral services will be held at the River Oaks Stake Center, 8950 S. 1300 W, West Jordan, UT, January 21, 2017, at 11 a.m., with a viewing 1 hour before the service. Interment at the Payson Utah City Cemetery. Online condolences www.russonmortuary.com