Wilhelm "Willy" Burgdorfer

Dr. Burgdorfer will be missed and forever remembered around the world for his kindness and accomplishments. His family and friends will be in my prayers.

To Willy's family,

You have my heartfelt sympathies as my own husband died Nov. 13 unexpectedly. He had advaned parkinson's, advanced dementia, undiagnosed chronic lyme disease since the dr. reading Igenex's western blot didn't know how to read the positive numbers. They went by CDC decision of NEGATIVE.

My shocking news was he was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer of right lung and liver compressing his heart artery. More shocking news tonight was his death certificate shows cancer started in COLON and NO ONE caught it in all the various testings and many chest x-rays he had.

We are so grateful for Willy giving our disease a name and the IT'S ALL IN YOUR HEAD MENTALITY could be dropped for a legitimate disease causing so many unknown symptoms.

Mrs. B, thank you for all the love and support as he fought for our disease in his research for years.

RIP WILLY. Perhaps you'll meet my own hubby one day there.

My family will miss Willy dearly. We enjoyed his friendship over the years at St. Paul's. His laughter and wisdom always warmed our hearts. Our deepest sympathy to Lois and the rest of the family.

Aufwiedersehen, and my deepest gratitude for the brilliant legacy you leave for everyone who has to deal with
Lyme disease and other tick-borne diseases, whether researchers, doctors or patients.
My condolences to all who knew and loved him.

We at the bank are so sorry to hear of Willy's passing. He was one of our favorite customers, and will forever miss him and his smile. Our thoughts are with the family.


RIP Willy.

Dear Lois and Family,

Our deepest sympathy to all of you. We thought the world of Willy and will greatly miss him. We always looked forward to his smiling face and he brightened our day when he walked through our restaurant doors. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.

My hero.

Carl and Bill: I am sorry to learn of your father's passing. It was an honor to have known your family while growing up in Hamilton. May he rest in peace.

Bill and Carl

Sorry to read about your Dad, won't be able

to attend the service but will be thinking of

him and you.

(Former next door neighbor)

I'm Wayne Wardwell. I retired 20 years ago after being the minister of the Hamilton Presbyterian Church for 20 years. Many years ago, Willy Burgdorfer coached my son Kim in French and so I was interested in what he had to say about Lyme disease when he gave a talk on it at (I believe) the Ravalli County Museum. He stated firmly at that time that anyone who had Lyme disease did not contract it in Montana, but somewhere else. Over the years I asked him at least twice whether he remained convinced of that, and he replied that he did. Now, apparently Tom Schwan has discovered a new tick that can inflict Lyme diseasea€"a shy, soft shelled tick, that has probably been here all along. This is a tick that bites quickly and hides away in Montana barns and woodpiles. Also, apparently, the disease can be passed along by intimate contact. So, I wanted to ask Willy a fourth time what he thought. But I waited too long, and he is gone. Willy was my friend (as he was to hundreds of people) and he worried with me about Dale when she was suffering from one of the senile dementias. I wish I could have had one last visit with my unlikely friend Willy.

just a note of appreciation for Dr. Burgdorfer's dedicated work in the area of Lyme Disease. I am one that suffers from this illness and it has made all the difference in the world to know after 38 years of being undiagnosed what I have and what sort of treatment to seek. My sympathy to his family. May Willy rest in peace!

Dear Bill and Carl,



Please accept our heartfelt condolences for the passing of your father. I know you were very proud of him as his contributions to humanity were profound. I will always treasure fond memories of our times together for the remainder of my time.



With best respects,



Mark Finsley

My sincere condolences to the Burgdorfer family. The Lyme disease community is thankful that he identified Borrelia burgdorferi when so many children were incorrectly being diagnosed with Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis.

I never met Dr. Burgdorfer but he impacted my life, my whole life and the life I have left. He was the Doctor that knew something wasn't right. And we SICK ONES were not just a bunch of nuts. Dr. Burgdorfer actually found a big part of the answer; yes there is something there. Now the ball continues to roll to all the micro biologists working on better testing and some day a cure! I have faith this will happen because of pioneers like Dr. Burgdorfer. I m going to make a donation to my MICRO BIOLOGIST/LLMD IN HIS NAME.

So saddened for the loss of life of willy's survivors. There are more then too many then appreciate his heart and soul efforts to recognize and save lives. I thank you, his family for inspiring him on that path!

So many lives have been touched by his work, mine included. Thank you for all that you did for Lyme patients, Dr. Burgdorfer, and may you rest in peace. My deepest condolences to his family and friends.

Carl I am so sorry for your loss ,your Father was a notable man, one that made an impact.I once ran across him at a conference in Austin TX and was he shocked, I still laugh about it.but I am sorry for your lose .

Lois and family,

Please know you are all in our hearts and prayers as you grieve your beloved. The Lyme community and I in particular thank you for Willy's service helping to identify what was making thousands ill. May you have wonderful memories to treasure and may you continually be reminded of all of us who are forever grateful.

My heart felt sympathy to this family. I worked at RML for years. Our paths crossed many times. He was an exceptional man, highly respected, intelligent, quite humorous, and yet humble. A true friend. Another light has gone out. May God Bless

My heartfelt condolences for the loss of this great man. I never met him, but being a Lyme patient, I do benefit from his many brilliant discoveries.

Our dear friend will be missed by many friends.

My husband Jack was a great admirer and fellow Kiwanian. God Bless

Dr Burgdorfer:

You will be missed by the Lyme Community. I met you at a Lyme Disease Conference in Orlando, FL, 1990. You were in attendance with Dr
Joseph J Burranscano, and other renowns, in the field of medicine. You were the inspiration that I would survive the horrible ramifications of Lyme
Disease. My heart and soul tells me that I met one of the greatest scientists, researchers, and humanitarians of all times!

Thank you for your amazing contributions to help patients. Condolences to the family who undoubtedly have sacrificed through many years in order for DrB to help lyme patients and their doctors around the globe. Many blessings to your family!

Those who loved Willy might like to read the tributes on our website, http://lymedisease.org/news/touchedbylyme/burgdorfer-gratitude.html

His unique education and experience led him to identify the cause of Lyme disease.

His compassion made him answer a 2am phone call from a desperate patient.

His scientific integrity kept his mind open.

We will miss him.











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