Marsha Burzynski

Marsha Burzynski passed away August 3, 2022 after a hard-fought battle with cancer. Born in Stoughton, Wisconsin, Marsha was the youngest child of Donald and Alberta Jones. Marsha grew up in Oshkosh and graduated from Oshkosh North High School. She received a Bachelor of Science degree, Biology, from Ripon College, followed by a Master's Degree in Biological Sciences at UW-Milwaukee. Marsha was employed by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources from 1991 until the time of her retirement in 2021. Marsha married Thomas Burzynski in 1997, and resided in South Milwaukee. She is survived by husband Tom, siblings: Matt Jones, Oshkosh; Synda Jones, Oshkosh; Tom (Cheryl) Jones, Tomahawk; Nieces: Alyson (Gabe) Brower and Anne (Derek) Zernach. Sisters-in-law Lisa (Dana) Thomas, Julie Shanahan, and brother-in-law Gregg (Leslie) Burzynski and their children Gregg Jr and Taylor Densmore. She was preceded in death by her parents, brother Tim, and beloved dog Jordy. During her long career with the DNR, Marsha played a crucial role in numerous contaminated sediment cleanups in southeastern Wisconsin, including the Kinnickinnic, Little Menominee and Milwaukee rivers, Lincoln Creek and Cedar Creek. She was also a key contributor to the development of the Remedial Action Plan for the Milwaukee River and estuary, which set forth the necessary steps to clean contaminated sediments and rehabilitate fish and wildlife habitat. Marsha was an avid gardener who delighted in starting vegetable plants for friends and coworkers. She and Tom had many wonderful camping trips with friends, especially Carolyn and Harry Fair, and Sharon and Roger Schaver. Marsha was truly treasured by friends and the extensive DNR family, many of them visiting her in the final days of hospice care. The family would like to thank the staff at Waukesha Memorial Hospital and Seasons Hospice in Oak Creek for their kindness to Marsha in her final months. Per her wishes, a celebration of life will be held at a later date. If you would like to contribute to a memorial, gifts to the cholangiocarcinoma foundation (cholangiocarcinoma.org) are appreciated. In Marsha's words, "Cancer DIDN'T win because it died with me."