William Albert Burgstrom

William Albert Burgstrom was born to Audrey and Clarence Burgstrom in 1927 in Oakland, CA. He passed away Christmas Night, with his wife by his side, at his home in Watsonville at the age of 93.

When Clarence passed away suddenly at the age of 31, Bill assumed the responsibilities of the Man of the House. He did his best to help his mother support and raise his two younger brothers and baby sister. Thus at the age of seven, he began a lifetime of caring for others.

Bill attended Los Gatos High School where he met the "Love of his Life", Lupe. As he often said "I proposed to her while she was still a teenager and not old enough to know what she was getting into." In October they celebrated their 73rd Wedding Anniversary.

Bill and Lupe moved to Corralitos to raise their two daughters; they would happily remain there for nearly 60 years. Daughter Janet Roach and her husband, David, delivered their first grandson Matthew Roach who, with his wife Kate, have supplied 5 great grandchildren: Lydia, Emily, Collin, Harrison, and Quinn. Daughter Lisa Burgstrom added two more grandsons: Andrew and Ryan Kramer (Wife Jennifer expecting a Great-Grandson in 2021). We will all miss him so much!

Bill left farming to start his career in Commercial Real Estate in 1962, which turned out to be the second great love of his life. His real talent was creating, literally from the ground up, the buildings that would house Watsonville's thriving businesses. He also helped to make the dream of building your own home in Corralitos a reality by creating Via Del Sol, Poppy Hill & Las Colinas. Bill "officially" retired from Burgstrom & Kramer at age 90!

Bill was an active member of various Community organizations such as Kiwanis, our Volunteer Fire Department, and was proud to be one of the founding members of the Corralitos Padres. His many hobbies included golf, fishing, driving his Kabota tractor, but most importantly he loved to travel. Bill and Lupe visited dozens of different countries from China to Japan, Turkey to Russia, Africa to New Zealand....

Bill's brother Robert White, his wife Marilyn, and sister Beverly Lavin will miss their Big Brother. Family members and his many Dear Friends will always remember Bill as a loving, generous, honorable, gracious, adventurous and brilliant man who was never to be trusted with anything mechanical or involving home repairs.

Due to Covid Restrictions, no Memorial Service can be held but we hope that you will take a moment to remember one of his acts of kindness or just recall a happy memory or two. The family would ask that, instead of flowers, donations be made to Hospice of Santa Cruz.

Published in The Pajaronian · January 7, 2021