Richard E. Burrack

(as written by Rev. Richard E. Burrack) Our Almighty Father was pleased to take out of this world and into His presence the soul of Rev. Richard Elmer Burrack on Sunday, August 17, 2008. The cause of his death was complications from Parkinson’s Disease. The days of his sojourn on earth was 87 years, 9 months and 30 days. Richard was born on October 18,1920, in Danzig, North Dakota. His parents were Rev. William Richard Burrack and Anna Cordelia (Ricklefs) Burrack. He was baptized by his father in Christ Lutheran Church, Danzig, ND on October 31, 1920. The sponsors of his baptism were Rev. Albert Freymann, Rev. Carl Schmidt and Miss Clara Ricklefs (the late Mrs. Ben Behrends). Richard received his grade school education in Bancroft, South Dakota from 1927-1935. He attended Confirmation School and was confirmed by his father on Sunday, June 30, 1935. His confirmation memory verse is Isaiah 43:1b “Fear not, for I have redeemed you, I have called you by name; you are mine.” Richard attended high school in Hartford, South Dakota, and graduated in 1939. He attended college at Augustana College, Sioux Falls, SD in 1939-1940 and then went to Colorado State College, where he studied for the Forest Service and served in the Gunison National Forest in Colorado in 1941. He answered the call to serve “Uncle Sam” and was inducted on July 8, 1942. He received the Sergeant Technician rating (T3) in the 46th General Hospital, serving as ward boy and ward master, and as an assistant to the Protestant Chaplain’s assistant, T3 William Guthrie. The hospital received orders to go across the Atlantic in September 1942. Being without equipment Richard joined other hospitals at Telemson, and then at Oosda until the camp was ready for service at Oran. Richard served in tents for about a year before he entered the LCI ‘s to travel to France. He lived in pup tents till service was established at Bessensaw where he served until 1945 when the war was ended. Africa. During his term of duty he played trombone with the 46th regiment marching band and dance band. This assignment saved him from transfer to the front lines on three different occasions. Richard received his discharge from the army on December 5, 1945 at Camp Mc Coy, Wisconsin. He returned to continue his college education. Later he attended The Wartburg Seminary in Dubuque, Iowa, graduating in 1951 and was ordained. Richard was united in marriage to Lois Ruth Kehren at Wayne Zion Lutheran Church, Monticello, Iowa by her father, Rev. Frederick Kehren and Richard’s father, Rev. William Burrack, on Sunday, September 23, 1951. Richard and Lois served the following congregations: The American Lutheran Church, Grundy Center, Iowa; St. John’s Lutheran Church, Western Douglas, Plainfield, Iowa; St. John’s Lutheran Church, Fort Wayne, Indiana; Christ Lutheran Church, Stockton, Illinois; (all American Lutheran Churches). Immanuel Lutheran Church, Pomeroy, Iowa; Trinity Lutheran Church, Audubon, Iowa (all in The Missouri Synod Lutheran Churches) (26 years were in the ALC and 24 years in the Lutheran Church, Missouri Synod for a total of 50 years in the ministry). Lois and Richard moved into the Carroll Health Center in 2002 following Lois’ heart surgery in 2001. Richard spent his last years in the Carroll Health Center until the time of his death. He enjoyed his freedom in the home and the security the home offered. Richard is survived by a daughter, Ruth Carter and her husband Gary of Carroll; a son, Frederick Burrack and his wife MaryBeth of Manhattan, Kansas; a son, David Burrack and his wife Debbie of Blair, Nebraska; a daughter Clara Smith, and her husband Chad of West Des Moines, Iowa; a brother Louis Burrack of Anamosa, Iowa; a sister Marilyn Fjeld and her husband Roger of Estes Park, Colorado; nine grandchildren; and one great granddaughter. He was preceded in death by his wife, Lois; a son, Mark; his mother and father, Rev. William and Anna (Ricklefs) Burrack; his step-mother Charlotte Burrack; his mother and father-in-law, Rev. Frederick Kehren and Clara (Randecker) Kehren; and nephew Stuart Fjeld. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Thursday, August 21, 2008 at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Carroll with Pastor Robert Riggert and Pastor David Anthony officiating. Organist for the service will be Nathan Proctor and violinist will be Karl Linden. Friends may call at the Dahn and Woodhouse Funeral Home in Carroll after 5:00 P.M. on Wednesday, August 20, where there will be a prayer service held at 7:00 P.M. Casket bearers will be Joshua Carter, Jeremy Carter, Holly Carter, Donovan Burrack, Dustin Burrack, Tyler Smith, Aaron Smith, Matthew Rose, Michaela Rose, Doug Fjeld, and Karen Fjeld. Graveside services will be held at 12:00 P.M. on Friday, August 22, 2008 at the Western Douglas Cemetery near Plainfield, Iowa, with military honors conducted by the Plainfield American Legion. Arrangements are under the direction of the Dahn and Woodhouse Funeral Home in Carroll, Iowa.