Michael (Spike) Kieffer, class of 1975, passed away Friday March 10,2023, in Spokane , Washington. He ran cross country in high school. He was a father to Rachael, Steven and Andrew and a stepson Nathan.
Daughter Rachael Bardwell posted this sweet note on Facebook a few days ago...
For those who haven't heard, my dad, Michael Spike Kieffer went home to his Savior Jesus, yesterday March 10, 2023 at 1:40pm. He is finally free of the nasty disease that caused havoc on his body. He is preceded in death by his parents, George and Helen Kieffer and his wife Kathy Kieffer. He leaves behind his 4 children (myself, Andrew Kieffer, Steven Kieffer, and Nathan Ray), 7 siblings (kathy Mooney, Phil Kieffer Mary Kieffer George Kieffer Vince Kieffer Ray Kieffer Tiki Ray and Joan Kieffer Giuliano ) and 9 grandchildren.
My dad did not want a memorial service of any kind and we will honor that wish for him.
143, dad. I'll see you again. ❤️❤️❤️
I am writing to let everyone everyone know that my dad passed away peacefully yesterday morning. His passing is completely unexpected and all of our hearts are broken. As soon as we know details of the Celebration of Life, we will let everyone know. Thank you.
March 15, 2023 UPDATE POST
Lori Latimer posted ths today...
I'm not on Facebook much anymore because I'm busy living my life. But I do check in once a day or every other day. This morning when I did, I was devastated to learn of the passing of a good friend from high school. Kevin Fisher was an amazing drummer in the Burbank High School Band, Jazz Band, and Burbank Police Youth Band (he had talent, I was just a flag girl 😂). He was one of the first people I reconnected with on Facebook when I joined in 2008 or 2009.
Even though we grew up in Burbank, I'd long since moved to Georgia and become a Georgia Bulldog fan. He was a huge Alabama fan. We had a fun rivalry during college football season. If Georgia didn't win, I was always happy for him if the Tide won, and from his messages to me, I think he felt the same if Bama lost and Georgia won.
Kevin traveled for work and made it a point to come to the South for as many Bama games in Tuscaloosa as he possibly could. On one of those trips in 2014, we got together for dinner in Atlanta before he drove to Tuscaloosa.
Kevin was a good man and a good friend. More than anything, he loved his daughter, Emma. He was so proud of the young woman she's become.
I last saw Kevin in October 2018 at our 40th high school reunion. He's on the right, wearing the glasses. Just 3 months after this photo was taken, my life shattered when Greg left this life. Kevin always had a kind or comforting word for me on my social media posts about Greg. He. Was. A. Good. Man. And, he was my friend for almost 50 years.
I will miss you. I will miss our banter during college football season. I will miss your posts about all the delicious foods you enjoyed. I will miss your posts supporting me about Greg. I will miss your big bear hugs.
I will miss your posts about your beautiful daughter.
I'll even miss your posts about Bama, and all the photos of you traveling to cheer them on.
I will miss YOU, my dear friend. Fly high with the Angels. Oh the fun you, Jack Kile and others will have in Heaven! Play those drums, explore, reconnect with your loved ones, and may your Soul find peace. You were loved in this life, and you will be missed.
Until I see you again, my dear, dear friend. And this one time, for you, Roll Tide 💜🙏🏈🥁
Come celebrate the 115th Birthday of Burbank High School on Friday, September 1, 2023 from 5-9 PM at Burbank High (902 N. Third St)
We will come together as Alumni, Faculty, Students, and Community Members to celebrate 115 years of Bulldog Excellence and Pride
Some of the exciting things you can expect from the evening include:
Car Show featuring cars from each decade of BHS
Lots of food trucks
Inductions into the BHS Military Hall of Heroes
Presentation of our Top Dogs (1908-2023)
Live Music from past and current students playing music from the 1960s-present
Class Tables to reconnect with classmates
"A Walk Down Memory Lane" to feature incredible BHS memorabilia and photos from 1910-present PLUS an amazing video highlighting Burbank High's past and present
Bulldog Swag Bags
Meet up with retired staff and faculty
Meet and greet with every BHS sports team
A few big surprises
Class Reunions scheduled for the same weekend to extend the fun celebrating our memories and Burbank High School.
If you have any questions or would like to make a donation toward the event please contact Mr. McGinnis at erniemcginnis@burbankusd.org.
Ernie McGinnis
Burbank High School
Department Chair
Social Science
US History and Greek & Roman Archaeology
"Kind Words don't cost much... Yet they accomplish much." The "Word Cloud" was generated from comments posted on Mary's Facebook account. The word "Kindness" and "Kind" come up repeatedly for good reason as this is who Mary was.Kind to family, friends, strangers, the clerk at the store, the acquaintance at a party or event. Mary was kind, a kind lady, a kind daughter, sister, mother, grandmother, wife and friend. Mary's kindness was evident from her listening and caring ear, through her generosity, and her ability to bring a smile, though her kindhearted nature. Even if it wasn't your best day, a few moments with Mary would turn that frown upside down :).
Mary Lou Campbell was born to George and Maurine Campbell, May 26th 1935 in Los Angeles, California. Mary spent most of her young years in Burbank Ca., and graduated from Burbank High School where her father George taught bookkeeping and accounting. Mary moved to Valencia in 1972 where she would spend the remainder of her life.
Mary founded and ran a successful business, "MLK Inspections, Inc" which has been in business for over 45 years and continues operations from her home town Valencia Ca., by 3rd generation family members.
Mary was a Born-Again Christian, had a strong faith in our Lord and passed in his presence and the presence of her loving family in her Valencia home on November 15th.
Mary Lou, (Mimi) was preceded in death by her parents George and Maurine, her brother George Campbell, and her grandson Cameron Westcott. Mary is survived by her Husband Robert H Potts, her daughters, Lauree Ann Lage, D'arcy Diane Blandford, and Robin Kolarek. Mary has 7 grandchildren and 7 great grand-children.
A celebration of Mary's life will be held at Eternal Valley Memorial Chapel on January 7, 2023 at 11am with reception immediately following. Published by The Santa Clarita Valley Signal from Jan. 5 to Jan. 27, 2023.
Janet (Gurney) Smith grew up in Burbank, California. In 1940, the family lived at 527 South Reese Place in Burbank. She attended McKinley Elementary School, John Burroughs Junior High School, and Burbank High School. She graduated from Burbank High in 1947.
Janet married Richard Smith in 1950 (divorced 1974) and began a career in the horse business.
Over the years she was an owner of three horse ranches on various Los Angeles area sites. She concentrated on boarding horses, working with show horses, teaching riding, and promoting equine care. She was athletic and worked part-time as a stunt double in films and television.
After retirement Janet moved to Tucson, Arizona and finished her life there. Janet passed away at 93 years of age in the Tucson, Arizona area. She leaves a younger brother, Ron Gurney (1954 Burroughs grad), three adult children and several grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
From his life-long study of sports science accompanied by practical
experience in the training halls and playing fields of teams on multiple
levels of competition, Bob Ward has had a transformative effect on
strength and conditioning coaching. He was a pioneer in using data to
improve performance, the utilizing novel training techniques, and
applying Eastern methods to Western sports. His thirteen years with the
Dallas Cowboys under legendary coach Tom Landry helped solidify that
program's reputation as "America's team."
Robert Darryl Ward, son of Albert and Lovera Ward, was born on July 4,
1933, in Huntingdon Park, California. Ward’s father was a veteran of World War I, who was exposed to the mustard gas that was used in Western Europe. Ward barely knew his dad, who was out of his life from a young age. When Wardwas 6, he and his three siblings stayed in what essentially amounted to an orphanage in Southern California. They were there for three years until their mother was in a better place and could take care of them.
Bob developed an interest in strength training at age twelve when
lifting weights in a physical education class. Sports participation
helped him become a self-made man at Burbank High School where he
starred in football and track. At Whitworth College, where he received a
degree in physical education in 1955, he excelled in field events and
was named a small college All-American in football. After earning his
master's in 1959 at the University of Washington, Bob coached high
school football and track for six years, then became head track coach at
Fullerton College for the next decade where his teams won three
straight conference championships and a state championship. Ward also
coached rugby and designed a fitness program while serving in the Marine
Corps reserve. He capped these early experiences by earning a doctorate
in physical education from Indiana University in 1971.
In 1976 Ward embarked upon the climactic phase of his career when he was
tapped by Tom Landry to become the Cowboys' first strength and
conditioning coach. To provide his players a performance edge, he
improvised a system of computer-driven analytics which enabled coaches
to break down actual athletic movements rather than rely on statistics.
He also instituted a form of psycho-cybernetics by applying the tensile
strength of surgical tubing to induce greater speed. Ward's most
revolutionary innovation, however, was employing the mixed martial arts
techniques (Jeet Kune Do) of the legendary Bruce Lee, through his
protégé Dan Inosanto, to improve the quickness of Cowboy players. Ward's
Cowboy teams compiled a 124-72 record that included ten winning
seasons, a Super Bowl victory in 1977, and a Pro Bowl win in 1983.
Players on whom he had a major impact include quarterback Roger Staubach
and tackle Randy White and NFL coaches Dan Reeves (Denver Broncos) and
Mike Ditka (Chicago Bears).
Bob Ward retired in 1989, but he remained actively involved with
strength and conditioning as co-founder of the National Association of
Speed and Explosion, developer of a Computer Graphic Player Analysis
system, and director of Sports Science and Nutrition for Mannatech
International. In 2015 he preserved his ideas for posterity by
publishing Building the Perfect Star (Ascend Books). His other project was a book on the "Martial Arts: The Spiritual and Physical Genome."
As a master's track and field athlete, Bob was equally impressive,
being twice named a world champion, garnishing six world records, and
designated USATF Masters "Field Athlete of the Year," in 2002.
Bob Ward died of natural causes on June 28, 2021.His brother Paul Ward, BHS '54, passed away in 2018. Read about Paul here.
Very sad news... Tiffanye Nichols Marvin Tomlin posted on February 19, 2023...
Heaven gained another beautiful angel today. My heart is completely broken with the loss of my first best friend, my biggest supporter, the strongest women I know, my beautiful mom. Thank you for guiding and teaching me to the person I am today. I love you Mom, give dad a hug for me!
I knew Johnnie Maire from Miller Elementary School and then in 2014 while visiting my sister in Scottsdale Arizona, we met up and had a fun breakfast together. She will be greatly missed by many and we pray for God's comfort for her family and loved ones.
A FEW FACEBOOK COMMENTS...
Renee King Rest is peace sister bull dog… you will be sorely missed. ❤️
Betsey Nash She clearly still had her sparkle! I remember her well. RIP❤️
Annette Dinolfo Bennett So sorry that we’ve lost another classmate 🙏🏼💗🙏🏼 knew her since junior high school. Always a joy to be around . RIP Johnnie 💔
Ross Barnett So very sad!
Pamela Spang Fun beautiful person, safe journey 😔
Elaine Elliott R.IP.Johnnie.you were a good friend to me till the end. Peace and 💕
Christine Smith Carroll RIP Johnnie. Your sweet beautiful spirit will be missed. Prayers to your family.
