William Burns

Bill attended Ferris State University where he graduated with a Doctor of Pharmacy degree in 2004. He wore many hats as a pharmacist, spending years working in both the nuclear, clinical and community setting.

On July 28, 2012 Bill married his best friend Natalie (Werda). Together they were blessed with four beautiful children: Henry, Emmett, Miriam and Corbin.

Bill was a jack of all trades. He could look at anything and figure out how to fix it. An amateur carpenter, if Natalie could envision it, Bill could build it. Bill’s hobbies were wide and varied, but what he enjoyed most was watching his kids do what they loved. He could always be found cheering on his older two boys from the hockey stands or on the side of a soccer field. He delighted in watching his baby girl dance and swim and found humor in watching his youngest son attempt to do all of the above activities in hopes of keeping up with his older siblings.

Mental health is health. Our health care system is broken in many ways, but mental health care in this country is abysmal. Insurance dictates that a one week inpatient stay is all that you need to get better. Then you are discharged back into reality with no follow-up visits, no safety net in place. We need to treat mental health disorders as if they were a cancer, because treatment is just as nuanced. We need more funding. We need more specialized treatment plans. But more than anything, we need to extend empathy towards those who fight mental health battles. In a world where you can be anything, be kind.

A private celebration of life will take place. Cremation arrangements have been handled by Hurst Funeral Home in Greenville.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Partners in Prevention.