Bill Burgess Obituary

Burgess
Bill Burgess
1930 - 2017
Bill Burgess, sculptor best known for Colorado Springs' Continuum, died peacefully on Saturday, Oct 21, 2017 surrounded by family.
Charming, humorous and perceptive, his blunt opinions would often drive discussions long into the night. Bill was a devoted father who taught his children how to weld, fix anything, think differently, value education and pursue individual passions.
Burgess made sculpture in the Pikes Peak region for 50 years. His work is in many private collections, and his public commissions can be seen throughout Colorado. The Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center has three of his sculptures in its permanent collection. In 2015, The Pikes Peak Arts Council awarded Burgess the Eve Tilley Lifetime Achievement Award.
Born in 1930 in Dixon Illinois, Bill moved to Boulder in 1946. After serving in the Navy during the Korean War, he earned a BA in art at the University of Colorado. Bill and Betty Burgess raised three children in an environment of curiosity, creativity, and honesty. Between 1960-1980 Burgess taught art at Wasson High School. He also earned an MA in painting from Colorado College and an MFA in sculpture from the Maryland Institute College of Art.
Bill was a steady anchor for his family. He loved each uniquely and was greatly loved in return. His later years were truly happy and socially enriched with his faithful partner of 20 years, Kat Jorstad. He is survived by his three children Sally Burgess Fouche, William Carlton Burgess Jr, Lisa Burgess-Alm, and Kat's children, Ashley Jones and Nathan Jorstad. Kat and Bill shared 16 grandchildren. A public service is planned for January 13th, 2018 at the Ent Center.
He believed deeply in the transformative power of art, and memorial donations may be made to the UCCS Gallery of Contemporary Art, where a fund has been established to support emerging artists at the new Ent Center. https://giving.cu.edu/fund/gallery-contemporary-art. Checks may be made out to the CU Foundation and mailed to: UCCS Advancement /Development, 1420 Austin Bluffs Parkway, Colorado Springs, CO 80918 with "In honor of Bill Burgess/UCCS GOCA Fund" in the memo line.