Mark James Burnard

Mark James Burnard, age 65, passed away on March 22, 2022 in his home. On September 13, 1956, Mark was born in Toledo, Ohio to Charles and Caroline (Eckel) Burnard. Mark grew up in Sylvania, Ohio, and was a graduate of Sylvania High School. One of his first jobs as a teenager was working at Barry Bagels’ first location on Holland Sylvania Road. He joked about being the first Catholic bagel maker in Sylvania! Mark worked as an employee of St. Vincent’s Hospital for 42 years, and performed housekeeping, maintenance, carpentry, and repairs as needed. He was truly appreciated by the nursing staff for always lending a willing hand to help with tricky situations. Mark started racing dirt bikes at Delta Raceway as a teenager and the rest of his life was marked by his love of motorcycles. His first two bikes were a Honda 50cc mini bike and a Suzuki 125cc. They were the heart of everything he did; from road trips to broken legs, it was thanks to a motorcycle. He was also an avid fisherman. He loved the solitude of his friend’s pond, ice fishing with his buddies Up North, and getting his own boat out onto Lake Erie. Mark has caught every type of fish you could imagine, as well as turtles and cell phones. He shared his love and knowledge of motorcycles and fishing with his daughter and friends. Other hobbies he enjoyed included woodworking, billiards, darts, and recording every motocross race on VHS tapes. Mark is survived by his daughter Elizabeth (Justin) Rodak and grandchildren Ivy, Oaklen, Ember and Aurora. Also surviving are his siblings Charles, Teresa (Bill) Carper, Thomas (Patricia) Burnard, Mary (Howard) Thaller, David (Nancy) Burnard, and Kathleen (Andrew Neil) Burnard. He is preceded in death by his parents and his eldest sister Patricia Cole. Mark will be deeply missed by his family and friends. Family will receive friends for a celebration of Mark’s life on Saturday, June 4, from 2-6pm, at DUX Motorcycle Club 4405 Piehl Rd, Ottawa Lake, MI 49267.