Roland Bruce Burgan was born in Laurium, Michigan, to George and Irma (Karhu) Burgan on January 30, 1939. Following his 1956 graduation from Calumet High School, Burgan enrolled at Michigan College of Mining and Technology (later Michigan Technological University) to study electrical engineering. He subsequently served in the Air Force, enlisting in 1961.

Following his service in the military, Burgan worked as general manager at Houghton radio station WHDF and later as an engineering for ABC Channel 5 television in Calumet. He also served as a weather observer at Houghton County Memorial Airport.

Active in his local community, Burgan was a member of various organizations, including the Alfred Erickson American Legion Post 186, the Copper Country Veterans Association, the Hancock Sesquicentennial Committee, and the Houghton County Building Authority. He also pursued passions in amateur radio, local history, and photography, providing pictures for the City of Hancock's website beginning in 1998.

Roland Burgan passed away on January 14, 2016, at the age of seventy-six. He was survived by his wife of nearly fifty years and several other family members.