Gerald (Jerry) C. Burks

Jerry Burks passed peacefully into God’s heavenly arms on December 22, 2021. Jerry was born on March 3,1934, in Jerome, Idaho. He grew up with his father, Robert F. Sr. and two brothers, Frank (deceased) and Ron (Jerome). During his teen years Jerry worked with his Burks cousins’ sheep operations. Jerry married his high school sweetheart, Katherine (Kay) Collett in 1953 and they were married for 46 years until she passed away in 1999. Jerry and Kay had two daughters, Victoria Burks-Alden and Valerie Burks-Raney. Jerry was quite involved with his family over the years including family camping and fishing trips and visiting with family in the Wendell, Jerome, and Burley, Idaho areas. Jerry served as PTA Vice President and President while his daughters attended Hawthorne Elementary school in Boise, and he helped with his daughters’ Girl Scout activities. Jerry provided a constant source of transportation services for his daughters’ involvement in junior high orchestra and Boise High School drill team activities. Jerry was also involved in local church activities and he enjoyed singing in the choir, which included being part of recording an inspirational music album with The Singing Ambassadors choir.

Jerry served full time with the U. S. Army Idaho National Guard for 40 years. He retired as a Chief Warrant Officer, CW3. During retirement, Jerry and Kay enjoyed traveling with their new motorhome and eventually decided they liked the “snowbird” life in the Phoenix, Arizona area during the winter months. After Kay’s passing, Jerry married Joan Karren Walker, who he had known as a fellow classmate from Jerome High School. Jerry and Joan continued with their snowbird living in Arizona and they eventually located their winter home in Tucson, Arizona, so they could live closer to Joan’s daughters, Karen Delgado, Annette Pursley, and Brenda Walker. Jerry and Joan enjoyed cruise ship voyages through the Panama Canal, Hawaii, Mexico, Alaska, and the Rhine River in Germany. They also enjoyed socializing with family and friends in Arizona, Idaho, and California. Joan passed away in 2015 and Jerry continued to spend winter months in Arizona among friends and family. In 2018 Jerry decided he could use some extra assistance. He continued to be involved in exercise and social activities at Copper Springs Senior Living where he quickly made friends with fellow residents and the staff. The staff and residents described Jerry as: “such a nice guy!”

Jerry is survived by his daughters, Victoria Burks-Alden (Richard) and Valerie Burks-Raney; brother Ronald Burks; step daughters, Karen Delgado (Glenn), Annette Pursely (Greg), Brenda Walker, and step sister Clara English. Jerry was preceded in death by his parents, Robert F. Burks Sr., and Ella Dees Petzoldt; wife, Katherine Collett Burks; wife, Joan Walker Burks; brother, Frank, half-brother Robert Jr, sister Luella Ann; and son-in-law, Jack Raney.

A private burial with military honors will be held on January 18, 2022, at Pleasant View Cemetery in Burley, Idaho. Memorial services are pending for late spring.

Funeral arrangements are with Alden Waggoner Funeral Home in Boise. The family suggests a donation to a favorite charity in lieu of flowers.