Severson Dells

David and Neva Burdick

Neva Burdick never stopped thinking about Severson Dells Nature Center. She and her late husband Dave were friends, benefactors, volunteers, board members and incredible evangelists for the work we do connecting people to nature through education.

We lost Neva on July 6 and it is a big loss. Neva and Dave were instrumental in shaping the future of our non-profit organization through their leadership, philanthropy and guidance.

David, who died in 1993, was a teacher. He knew the impact the natural world has on children and he was an incredible champion of environmental education. After school, David’s favorite way to connect himself to nature was through the camera lens. He was a terrific photographer and left an incredible catalog.

Neva, too, championed nature education and was a long-time member of the Severson Dells Education Foundation Board, the governing group of not-for-profit nature group.

After David died, Neva entered the publishing world in 1998 with a picture book, "Treasures Among the Trees," to honor Dave and to raise money for Severson Dells. The book featured nature photos taken by Dave, wrapped around story written by Sheryl Pitts Wolff about a grandfather’s and grandson’s walk through the forest preserve in search of nature’s gems. In the end, they find that the best treasure of all was sharing the natural world with someone else.

Copies of the book are available in the Severson Dells Nature Center Gift Shop. Here’s Neva’s obituary.

Stoughton, Wis. - Neva Burdick, age 85, died on Sunday, July 6, 2008. She was born in Stephenson County, Illinois on July 14, 1922, the daughter of Frank and Anna Schramm. Neva was united in marriage on June 22, 1947 to David Livingston Burdick.

She was employed as an x-ray technician for many years at Woodward Governor in Rockford, IL. In 1990 she and her husband moved to Vennevoll in Stoughton. Neva was currently a member of the Stoughton United Methodist Church and a former member of Third Presbyterian Church in Rockford. She was also a former board member of the Severson Dells Environmental Education Foundation, and since moving to Stoughton, was a volunteer and promoter for the Skaalen community.

Neva is survived by many special nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. She was preceded in death by her husband, David, in 1993; her sister and best friend, Evelyn Heitz and her forever friend, Faye Keister, both in 2007.

A celebration of Neva’s life will be held at 11:00 AM on Monday, July 14, 2008 at the Skaalen Chapel, 400 N. Morris Street, Stoughton. A gathering of friends and family will be held from 10:00 AM until the time of service Monday. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Severson Dells Nature Center, 8786 Montague Road, Rockford, IL 61102.

Neva, we thank you for all of your love, support, generosity, nurturing, quick wit, and sage advice throughout our lives.