Mr. Tracy Evan Burnside, age 66, of Kalamazoo, MI, passed away unexpectedly at his home after a brief illness on August 15, 2026. He was born in Sturgis, MI, on March 2, 1960, the son of the late Philip and Barbara (Keyes) Burnside.

A Sturgis High School class of 1978 alumnus, Tracy was a prominent and proud fixture in the marching band. He went on to study at Fort Wayne Bible College, Calvin College, and earned a degree in Drafting from Glen Oaks College.

Tracy spent his career as a Mechanical Draftsman bringing precision and skill to every project. He was employed at RB&W (Coldwater), American Metal Fabrication (Three Rivers), and Acutech Industries Inc. (Kalamazoo). As technology progressed, he became accomplished in CAD but always missed “drawing the clean straight line”.

An accomplished trumpet player, Tracy was a passionate lover of music. He had a vast collection of early jazz and traditional music from all corners of the globe. He was a talented artist across multiple mediums including illustration, sculpture, photography, and most recently text-to-digital art.
Tracy was a tireless researcher of both early Michigan and American history, especially as it related to Scots-Irish immigration. This included both academic and field research. In the 1990s, he chronicled generations of family history, weaving together personal stories, photographs, and customs layouts for each era. In addition, Tracy had a deep global curiosity and loved immersing himself in learning about different cultures and populations. Over the last year, the thrust of his research and study centered on East Asia.

Tracy loved animals and had a special affinity for dogs. His current pups, Maggie and Lizzy, provided him happiness and companionship every day.

A quiet but caring man, Tracy was behind the scenes of many generous acts throughout his life. He had, however, a provocative sense of humor in the same vein as the late George Carlin. This sharp wit often surprised and delighted others when it flashed through his reserved exterior.
On June 25, 1993, he married his loving wife Cindra A. (Whitcomb) Burnside, who survives.

He is also survived by his brother Barry Lee Burnside (Esther) of Kalamazoo; nephew, Justin Burnside of St. Louis, Missouri; niece Valerie Burnside of Kalamazoo; great-niece, Lilly Burnside of Highland, Utah; and sister-in-law Laura Whitcomb of Kalamazoo.

Tracy was preceded in death by his parents and grandparents.