Wally Burgin

Wally John Burgin passed away peacefully surrounded by family on March 26, 2023, at Kavanagh House in Des Moines. Funeral services for Wally will be held at 10:00am on Friday, March 31, 2023, at Valley Church in West Des Moines. A visitation will take place from 4:00-8:00pm on Thursday, March 30, 2023, at Valley Church. Following services, interment will take place at Palmyra Cemetery.
Wally was born on September 21, 1964, in Ottumwa, Iowa to Walter and Martha (Schweppe) Burgin. In his time on this Earth, Wally left an unspeakably large impact on so many people. His ability to connect with people across the world resulted in friendships far and wide. His hard-working mentality and his desire to create culminated in countless projects which will stand the test of time. Wally loved to stay busy and was always looking to the next project. The most notable of these, is the home he designed and built for his family. Whether it was working on a car or building a garage, there was nothing he couldn’t build or fix. The family motto was “We’re Burgins, we do it ourselves”.
Wally grew up in Norwalk where he graduated from Norwalk High School in 1983. He then graduated from DeVry University with a degree in electronic engineering. He used his engineering degree to work on helicopter simulators for Singer Link, as well as working for Pioneer and most recently the Des Moines Water Works. Throughout all his work and projects, he still found the time to get his pilot’s license. Like his father, Wally had a passion for aviation and loved to tinker.
Wally cherished two things in life above all else, God and family. He devoted his life to being a good son, brother, husband, father, grandpa, and follower of Christ. Wally loved travelling with his family, whether it was hiking the Rocky Mountains or exploring a museum he loved a new adventure. Wally had a talent for mischief and always wanted to see his family smiling. His fun-loving nature and orneriness will be missed dearly, but never forgotten.
Wally is survived by his loving wife of 36 years, Trish; daughters, Grace (Matt) Zihlman, Faith Burgin, and Aubrey Burgin; granddaughter, Sadie Zihlman; mother, Martha Blue; sisters, Joni (Bob) Burgin Hartshorn, Lori (Nick) Nielsen, and Jeanne (Todd) Nelson; and many nieces and nephews.
Wally was preceded in death by his father Walter Burgin, and his grandparents, Kenneth and Ann Schweppe.
Memorial contributions may be made to the family.