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In memory of

Geri M. Burk

New Franklin, OH

September 23, 1933 - December 8, 2018

Sep 23, 1933 - Dec 8, 2018

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Geraldine Marie Burk, 85, met her Lord and Savior on December 8th, 2018, after a brief illness. While those of us left here on Earth miss her immensely, we rejoice in this eternal homegoing she anticipated her whole life.

As anyone who had the pleasure of knowing her is aware, relationships were of the utmost importance to Geri – she spent an enormous amount of effort fostering and maintaining connections with old and new friends alike over the years, and took great care to remember the details of others’ lives in a way that made all who knew her feel important. She found great joy in loving, mentoring and encouraging people, talking to her friends and family on the phone for hours, and welcoming visitors from near and far at every opportunity.

As much as she loved her friends and family, however, there was no more important relationship to her than the one she had with Jesus Christ. To know Geri was to know a true disciple and ambassador for Him. She possessed a faith and reliance on Jesus matched by few, giving Him the glory for every aspect of her life. It was not only her life she placed in His hands, though – if you knew Geri, she was praying for you, too! Hers was a supernatural resilience, joy and optimism that emanated from within, and was obvious to everyone she met.

Born to Melvin and Mildred Burk on September 23, 1933, in Akron, OH, Geri was an active, popular and outgoing young woman. Shortly after her June 1951 graduation from Garfield High School she contracted polio and spent nine months in the hospital, several of them in an iron lung. Although the virus left her permanently impaired physically, it was crucial to Geri that she not be labeled ‘handicapped’ or treated differently because of her limitations – she saw her life not as one diminished by a disability, but blessed by God’s grace. She encountered challenges of all kinds throughout the years of course, but faced them head-on with an unwavering determination and endlessly supportive family by her side. They made it their mission to help her lead as normal and independent a life as possible, for which she was always incredibly thankful. Her father and brother, particularly, fabricated a wide variety of mechanical aids, such as hand controls for her car and spikes for the end of her crutches to grip ice, long before they were commercially available. Geri was literally a ‘walking miracle’, as her nephew loved to say, and her zest and appreciation for life was an inspiration to all who knew her.

Thanks largely to the innovative hand controls that allowed her to drive, Geri secured a full-time position as a switchboard operator with Nationwide Insurance – a job that would turn in to a rewarding career and prove to be a perfect fit for her pleasant, cheerful demeanor. Outside of work Geri was an active member of her church on Brown Street, where she ministered to youth as a Sunday School teacher and camp counselor. She loved investing in the lives of young people, and although she never had any children of her own many considered her a mother figure in their lives. She also attended Akron Bible Institute, where she met many dear friends she stayed in touch with throughout her life.

After working in Akron for almost 25 years, Geri transferred to Walnut Creek, California following the death of her parents to work ten more years for Nationwide and retire with her sister Yvonne. She lived there for nearly 18 years, and always remembered that part of her life with great fondness. Geri thoroughly enjoyed spending her free time at a park near her house, Heather Farms, exercising / “walking” by the lake, and watching people play tennis and carry on with their activities. She also had the opportunity to travel with friends during that time (and throughout her life), embarking on several cruises. She was heavily involved in church there as well, where she continued to serve as a Sunday School teacher. She returned to Ohio around 2000, where she lived independently for nearly a decade and attended church at The Chapel before moving in to assisted living at St. Luke’s in Portage Lakes. She enjoyed spending her final years living on the water and sharing fantastic Fourth of July fireworks celebrations with family and friends.

Geri is survived by her sister-in-law, Neva; nephew, Dan; niece, Gina (Scott); and great nieces Lindsey (Joe), Haley (Don), Ahren, and Ariel (great-great niece Ellie). In addition to her parents she is proceeded in death by her sister Yvonne Joan Burk and her brother Melvin Joseph Burk.

Her family will hold a celebration of her life at The Chapel in Green on Saturday, January 5th, 2018. Calling hours will take place from 9:30 – 10:30 am, with a service beginning at 10:30 am. We would love for all to stay for a lunch in her remembrance immediately following the service – please bring your stories to share!

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In lieu of flowers, consider a gift to The Chapel Green • Feed the Children • Haven of Rest Ministries • Compassion.

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