Ryan Burda

Ryan J. Burda
December 14, 1971 - February 26, 2017
Madison, Wisconsin

MADISON, Wis. -- Ryan J. Burda, age 45, passed away on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2017. Ryan was born on Dec. 14, 1971 in Marinette, Wis., to his parents Jeanette (Hoffmann) Burda and Michael Burda. Ryan grew up in Madison and Fish Creek, Wis. (Door County), along with his sisters, Jessica and Alisson. He shared his life and love with his longtime partner and fiancé Cindy Popp, who he affectionately called "his little C-Lo."
Ryan was a 1990 graduate of Gibraltar High School (Fish Creek) and went on to study culinary arts, spending several years working professionally as a chef in Wisconsin and Colorado. He later began a successful career in corporate sales and launched his own online retail business, BigHappyBuddha.com, which he grew with his fiancé Cindy. His Buddha statues and garden business products were featured in national magazines like Better Homes & Gardens and InStyle.
To know Ryan was to never forget him, his big smile, enormous hugs and hearty handshakes. His gregarious, creative, and hardworking personality and interests in music, art, animals, nature, and spirituality drew many friends and acquaintances. In more recent years, he practiced digital photo editing for Cindy's photography business and enjoyed painting colorful canvases in his free time. His love of color also drew him to curation of beautiful saltwater aquariums.
Ryan is survived by his fiancé Cindy, his parents Michael and Jeanette Burda, his sisters Jessica Burda (Tim) and Alisson Burda, his aunts Marilynn Hoffmann, Donna Hoffmann, Patty Quinn (Steve), Kathy Neinas (Dale), Diana Burda, uncles Joe Burda (Jan), Bob Burda (Angie) and many Hoffmann and Burda cousins, and his Boehmfeldt family. He also has many friends and family in both Door County and Madison.
Ryan is preceded in death by his beloved grandmother Eleanor Hoffmann, uncle Edward Hoffmann, grandfather Frank Hoffmann, grandmother Norma Burda and grandfather Joseph Burda.
A celebration of Ryan's life will be held sometime this summer in Madison for family and close friends.
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"Keep your head together and call my name out loud.
Soon I will be knocking upon your door.
You just call out my name, and you know where ever I am
I'll come running to see you again.
Winter, spring, summer, or fall, all you have to do is call and I'll be there." ~ James Taylor
(Ryan recently shared this with family and friends on Facebook)
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Cress Funeral & Cremation Service
3610 Speedway Road, Madison WI
608-238-3434
www.CressFuneralService.com