Date of Birth:
Tuesday, September 26, 1916
Date of Death:
Monday, January 16, 2012
Age:
95 years old

Harry F. Burich M.D.

Harry F. Burich of Rochester, died at Madonna Towers Nursing Care on January 16, 2012 at the age of 95.

Harry was born on September  26, 1916  to Frank J. Burich and Catherine (Patrek) Burich in Silver Lake, Minnesota.  He attended school in Silver Lake where he was active in football and basketball, and also played trumpet in the town band.

Upon graduating from high school he worked in his father’s bank for a year, and then attended Minneapolis Business College.  He spent eight years in banking and finance, working as a bank examiner with the Minnesota Banking Division.

He volunteered to serve in the Army Air Force during World War II as an aviation cadet.  In 1942 he received a medical discharge and retuned to Minneapolis to pursue a medical career at the University of Minnesota.

He married Grace Lorence (also of Silver Lake, Minnesota) on May 11, 1946.

He received his B.S. degree from the University of Minnesota and graduated from the University of Minnesota Medical School, class of 1947.   He did his internship at Minneapolis General Hospital and McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls, SD.  After completing a surgical residency at the University of Minnesota and the Veterans Administration Hospital, he joined the Gunderson Clinic in Lacrosse, Wisconsin.

He returned to Minnesota in 1955 as one of the cofounders and the first surgeon of the Olmsted Medical Group (now OMC), and practiced surgery at the Olmsted Community Hospital until retiring in 1982.

At OMC Dr. Burich was made partner in 1956, served as president in 1958, and served on the Board of Directors for 22 years.  He chaired the building committee when the present main clinic building was constructed in 1969.   He served several terms as president of the medical staff at Olmsted Community Hospital.  He retired in 1982.  After retirement, he and his wife Grace spent several months of every year at their winter home in Arizona.

He was certified by the American Board of Surgery, was a fellow of  the American College of Surgeons, and a member of the American, Minnesota, and Zumbro Valley Medical Associations and the University of Minnesota President’s Club.  He was a long time member of the Knights of Columbus and the American Legion.

His hobbies were hunting, fishing, cross country skiing and golf.  He especially liked to travel and took many national and international trips both professionally and for pleasure. He had a wonderful sense of humor and he loved to read.  He always enjoyed spending time with family and friends.  He was a lifelong learner and until the end of his life, he maintained an active interest in people and in the world.

He is survived by his wife, Grace, three daughters: Kathie (Jim) Whiting of Rochester, Linda Burich (Gary Lynn) of Minneapolis and Andrea (Pat) Clark of Rochester, two sons: Randy (Jennifer) of Newport MN, Steve (Sherlyn) of Byron, thirteen grandchildren and one great-granddaughter.

A funeral Mass for Harry will be held at 11:30AM at the Madonna Towers Chapel on Saturday, January 21, 2012 with Fr. James Russell officiating. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery. Visitation will be held one hour prior to services at the Madonna Towers Chapel.

The Burich family prefers memorials to Madonna Towers Nursing Care or to Season’s Hospice.

Online condolences are welcome at www.mackenfuneralhome.com