* MY AWESOME DAD *
Arn Burks was the eldest son of Hilda and Ernest Burks and brother of Larry.
Born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, Dad attended Ford Trade School. He was a member of The Thunderbirds motorcycle club and met Tillie Vidlicka, my mom, when they both attended a rural hill climb in 1950. They were married on May 28, 1955 after he served in Korea as an army mechanic.
Dad was a truck driver, owning his own rig, and eventually became employed by The Ford Motor Company in Livonia, Michigan as a skilled tradesman. He was a gifted mechanic and loved any kind of motor (especially his many trucks) and motor sport. He enjoyed motorcycling (keeping his 1955 BSA in running condition) and snowmobiling in particular and was a race car enthusiast.
He was a loving father of four (Carol, Greg, myself and Laura) for whom he was a wonderful provider and great role model. A kind man with an enormous sense of humor, Dad was well-loved by family and friends alike.
In 1982 he was diagnosed with a brain tumor and was treated with two surgeries, radiation therapy and various medicines. He died at home with Mom, who tirelessly home-nursed him in the later stages of his illness, by his side.
He is the posthumous grandfather of three grandchildren: Greg's son Brandon and daughter Samantha; and Laura's daughter Olivia.
Dad continues to be missed and loved each and every day.
~~~~
Very special thanks and *hugs* to wonderful Mary "poe" Tootle, a fellow Angels Flower Garden member, who thoughtfully wrote this beautiful poem about my Dad!
For Arnold
While he was here,
He made us feel loved.
Our family was happy,
Blessed by Heaven above.
Our mom and our dad met long ago,
Then, love was born so true.
Happily soon after one by one,
They were blessed with 3 children too.
Dad was happy and loving,
He worked hard to raise us.
He was so good to our mom,
We never heard a fuss.
He liked to race and drive big trucks,
And motorcycles too, kicking up dust.
He worked with his hands,
An honest living was always a must.
The illness that took him never saw his good life,
Never stopped to consider his children, or his wife.
It ravaged his body, his mind and his soul,
So God came to take him, and make him again whole.
He's gone from us now,
Though we'll never forget.
His love and his kindness,
By which we were blessed.
As he looks down upon us,
From Heaven above,
We'll look up and feel it,
The soothing warmth of his love.
Written by Mary Tootle
AKA poe
February 16, 2007
Arn Burks was the eldest son of Hilda and Ernest Burks and brother of Larry.
Born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, Dad attended Ford Trade School. He was a member of The Thunderbirds motorcycle club and met Tillie Vidlicka, my mom, when they both attended a rural hill climb in 1950. They were married on May 28, 1955 after he served in Korea as an army mechanic.
Dad was a truck driver, owning his own rig, and eventually became employed by The Ford Motor Company in Livonia, Michigan as a skilled tradesman. He was a gifted mechanic and loved any kind of motor (especially his many trucks) and motor sport. He enjoyed motorcycling (keeping his 1955 BSA in running condition) and snowmobiling in particular and was a race car enthusiast.
He was a loving father of four (Carol, Greg, myself and Laura) for whom he was a wonderful provider and great role model. A kind man with an enormous sense of humor, Dad was well-loved by family and friends alike.
In 1982 he was diagnosed with a brain tumor and was treated with two surgeries, radiation therapy and various medicines. He died at home with Mom, who tirelessly home-nursed him in the later stages of his illness, by his side.
He is the posthumous grandfather of three grandchildren: Greg's son Brandon and daughter Samantha; and Laura's daughter Olivia.
Dad continues to be missed and loved each and every day.
~~~~
Very special thanks and *hugs* to wonderful Mary "poe" Tootle, a fellow Angels Flower Garden member, who thoughtfully wrote this beautiful poem about my Dad!
For Arnold
While he was here,
He made us feel loved.
Our family was happy,
Blessed by Heaven above.
Our mom and our dad met long ago,
Then, love was born so true.
Happily soon after one by one,
They were blessed with 3 children too.
Dad was happy and loving,
He worked hard to raise us.
He was so good to our mom,
We never heard a fuss.
He liked to race and drive big trucks,
And motorcycles too, kicking up dust.
He worked with his hands,
An honest living was always a must.
The illness that took him never saw his good life,
Never stopped to consider his children, or his wife.
It ravaged his body, his mind and his soul,
So God came to take him, and make him again whole.
He's gone from us now,
Though we'll never forget.
His love and his kindness,
By which we were blessed.
As he looks down upon us,
From Heaven above,
We'll look up and feel it,
The soothing warmth of his love.
Written by Mary Tootle
AKA poe
February 16, 2007
* MY AWESOME DAD *
Arn Burks was the eldest son of Hilda and Ernest Burks and brother of Larry.
Born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, Dad attended Ford Trade School. He was a member of The Thunderbirds motorcycle club and met Tillie Vidlicka, my mom, when they both attended a rural hill climb in 1950. They were married on May 28, 1955 after he served in Korea as an army mechanic.
Dad was a truck driver, owning his own rig, and eventually became employed by The Ford Motor Company in Livonia, Michigan as a skilled tradesman. He was a gifted mechanic and loved any kind of motor (especially his many trucks) and motor sport. He enjoyed motorcycling (keeping his 1955 BSA in running condition) and snowmobiling in particular and was a race car enthusiast.
He was a loving father of four (Carol, Greg, myself and Laura) for whom he was a wonderful provider and great role model. A kind man with an enormous sense of humor, Dad was well-loved by family and friends alike.
In 1982 he was diagnosed with a brain tumor and was treated with two surgeries, radiation therapy and various medicines. He died at home with Mom, who tirelessly home-nursed him in the later stages of his illness, by his side.
He is the posthumous grandfather of three grandchildren: Greg's son Brandon and daughter Samantha; and Laura's daughter Olivia.
Dad continues to be missed and loved each and every day.
~~~~
Very special thanks and *hugs* to wonderful Mary "poe" Tootle, a fellow Angels Flower Garden member, who thoughtfully wrote this beautiful poem about my Dad!
For Arnold
While he was here,
He made us feel loved.
Our family was happy,
Blessed by Heaven above.
Our mom and our dad met long ago,
Then, love was born so true.
Happily soon after one by one,
They were blessed with 3 children too.
Dad was happy and loving,
He worked hard to raise us.
He was so good to our mom,
We never heard a fuss.
He liked to race and drive big trucks,
And motorcycles too, kicking up dust.
He worked with his hands,
An honest living was always a must.
The illness that took him never saw his good life,
Never stopped to consider his children, or his wife.
It ravaged his body, his mind and his soul,
So God came to take him, and make him again whole.
He's gone from us now,
Though we'll never forget.
His love and his kindness,
By which we were blessed.
As he looks down upon us,
From Heaven above,
We'll look up and feel it,
The soothing warmth of his love.
Written by Mary Tootle
AKA poe
February 16, 2007
Arn Burks was the eldest son of Hilda and Ernest Burks and brother of Larry.
Born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, Dad attended Ford Trade School. He was a member of The Thunderbirds motorcycle club and met Tillie Vidlicka, my mom, when they both attended a rural hill climb in 1950. They were married on May 28, 1955 after he served in Korea as an army mechanic.
Dad was a truck driver, owning his own rig, and eventually became employed by The Ford Motor Company in Livonia, Michigan as a skilled tradesman. He was a gifted mechanic and loved any kind of motor (especially his many trucks) and motor sport. He enjoyed motorcycling (keeping his 1955 BSA in running condition) and snowmobiling in particular and was a race car enthusiast.
He was a loving father of four (Carol, Greg, myself and Laura) for whom he was a wonderful provider and great role model. A kind man with an enormous sense of humor, Dad was well-loved by family and friends alike.
In 1982 he was diagnosed with a brain tumor and was treated with two surgeries, radiation therapy and various medicines. He died at home with Mom, who tirelessly home-nursed him in the later stages of his illness, by his side.
He is the posthumous grandfather of three grandchildren: Greg's son Brandon and daughter Samantha; and Laura's daughter Olivia.
Dad continues to be missed and loved each and every day.
~~~~
Very special thanks and *hugs* to wonderful Mary "poe" Tootle, a fellow Angels Flower Garden member, who thoughtfully wrote this beautiful poem about my Dad!
For Arnold
While he was here,
He made us feel loved.
Our family was happy,
Blessed by Heaven above.
Our mom and our dad met long ago,
Then, love was born so true.
Happily soon after one by one,
They were blessed with 3 children too.
Dad was happy and loving,
He worked hard to raise us.
He was so good to our mom,
We never heard a fuss.
He liked to race and drive big trucks,
And motorcycles too, kicking up dust.
He worked with his hands,
An honest living was always a must.
The illness that took him never saw his good life,
Never stopped to consider his children, or his wife.
It ravaged his body, his mind and his soul,
So God came to take him, and make him again whole.
He's gone from us now,
Though we'll never forget.
His love and his kindness,
By which we were blessed.
As he looks down upon us,
From Heaven above,
We'll look up and feel it,
The soothing warmth of his love.
Written by Mary Tootle
AKA poe
February 16, 2007
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