Donald Ellis BURK

BURK, BRANNAN, DAVIS, KUHLERS, PALS, MENNENGA, PAULSEN

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 4/14/2010 at 11:16:50

BELMOND — Donald Ellis Burk, 79, passed away Thursday (Feb. 4, 1999) at his home in Belmond. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday at the United Methodist Church, Goodell, with the Rev. Curtis DeVance officiating. Interment will be in Amsterdam Cemetery, Goodell. Visitation will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. today at Dugger Ewing Funeral Home, Belmond, and one hour prior to services on Saturday at the church.

Donald, the son of Wilmer Ellis and Elizabeth Catherine Brannan Burk, was born June 10, 1919, at the Ruby Hill Farm near Goodell, Iowa. He grew up in the Goodell area. He attended school in Goodell, graduating from the Goodell High School in 1937. On June 14, 1939, he was united in marriage to Doris Davis at the United Methodist Church, in Kanawha. Don farmed for 50 years on the family Century Farm near Goodell. He also managed a 10,000-chicken house for 25 years and milked cows for 30 years. Don was a 4-H leader for 15 years and a Pioneer Sales Representative for 25 years. Donald loved farming, especially working around animals. He liked to look for deer and other wildlife. He also enjoyed baseball, playing in his youth, watching sports on TV and watching his children and grandchildren play sports. The many fishing trips in Canada with his family were special times for him. In 1989, the couple moved into Belmond and Donald continued to farm. He was a member of the Rainbow Swingers Square Dancing Club. He was an active member of the United Methodist Church in Goodell, serving many offices, most notably being Steward for 30 years. He was also a member of the Men's Brotherhood at the church, in which he helped with many soup suppers and church breakfasts.

Donald is survived by his wife, Doris; his daughter, Patty Kuhlers, of Clear Lake; two sons, Bob and his wife, Karen, of Story City, and Tom and his wife, Jackie, of Goodell; six grandchildren, Krista Pals, Kent Kuhlers, Kari Mennenga, Phil Burk, Ryan Paulsen and Nathan Burk; six great-grandchildren, Julia, Alyssa, and Brianne Pals, Shelby Mennenga, Colton and Olivia Kuhlers; a brother, Gerald and his wife, Nellie, of Goodell; several nieces and nephews; and a host of friends. He was preceded in death by his parents and a son-in-law, Marlyn Kuhlers.

February 5, 1999
Mason City Globe Gazette, Iowa