Harold Lee Burky

HAROLD LEE BURKY

Springfield, Mo.

Harold Lee Burky, 87, of Springfield, MO, passed away on July 7, 2021, at his home after a brief illness. He was born September 12, 1933, the youngest of five kids, at the farm house in Henry County IA, to David and Bertha (Brownell) Burky. His father suffered a severe

stroke and the family moved to Mt. Pleasant, when Harold was in grade school.

Harold married Judy

Steele on April 21, 1960, in Cedar Rapids, after knowing each other six weeks and they celebrated their 61st wedding anniversary this year.

Harold graduated from Mt. Pleasant High School and joined the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War for four years 1953-1957, and was stationed in Georgia and Florida. Following his discharge, Harold and his brother Carl decided to bring bowling to Mt. Pleasant and they attended a Brunswick Training School, where Harold did management training and Carl did the mechanical training. After selling the bowling alley, Harold began working as an insurance adjuster in 1961 for IMT Insurance of Des Moines, IA, and was located in Oelwein, IA. In 1974, he moved to Judy's family farm in Novinger, MO, and worked for Columbia Mutual Insurance of Columbia, MO, with his territory being northeast MO. He made several lifelong friends through both these jobs. He retired from Columbia Mutual in 1993 and moved to Springfield, MO, to be near the kids and grandkids. He also raised livestock, and planted and harvested crops while on the farm.

He served on the board of Adair County Mutual Insurance Company and was a member of the Novinger Lions Club and Methodist Church. He loved watching his kids and later grandkids play sports and band and rarely missed an event. He was a fan of all sports on TV in his later years. He loved watching the St. Louis Cardinals, KC Chiefs, NASCAR races and Final Four. He was always a family man and felt his greatest accomplishment were his kids, who he worked hard to make sure had a good education and were good people. He had a dry quick wit, a great smile, never knew a stranger and enjoyed his family and any outing or event that they planned for him. He and Judy have several lifelong friend who they enjoyed catching up with.

Harold is survived by his wife of 61 years, Judy (Steele) Burky; son, David (Laurie) of Nixa, MO; daughters, Leea Reed (Jack) of Nixa, MO, and Amy Ingham (Todd) of Republic, MO; seven grandchildren, Sunny Reed Scrivener of Nixa, MO, Austin Reed (Kayla) of Springfield, MO, Payton Reed of Nixa, MO, Cameron Burky of Newport, RI, Nolan Burky of Nixa, MO, Taylor Ingham of Cape Girardeau, MO, and Steven Ingham of Troy, MO; three great-grandchildren, Chloe Scrivener, Jaxson and Mason Reed. His is also survived by several nieces and nephews who thought the world of him as he was the "funcle."

He was preceded in death by his parents, David and Bertha; brother, Carl (Irene) Burky; and sisters, Florence (Darrell) Kinney, Betty (Raymond) Hunter and Twila (Wayne) Parsons.

Harold wanted a simple graveside service at the Missouri Veterans Cemetery, where he will be buried, and due to the COVID-19 outbreak in SW Missouri will take place with immediate family in the near future.

In lieu of flowers memorials are suggested to Rescue One designated to help with their new clinic rescueonespringfield.com/donations/anniversary/ or mailed to Rescue One at 1927 E Bennett STE B, Springfield, MO 65804; or Novinger Renewal for Methodist Church preservation mailed to Novinger Renewal at PO Box 24, Novinger, MO 63559; or the charity of your choice.