WINTERSET, Iowa — Winterset residents are still mourning the loss of their longtime police chief, Ken Burk.
A celebration of life for Burk took place Friday morning at New Bridge Church. Dozens of community members and law enforcement officials from across the state were in attendance, alongside Burk's family and friends.
At the service, Burk's wife, Tina Kelley, spoke about the impact he had on the Winterset community.
"Before Ken passed, I shared with him some of the messages that people were sending," Kelley said. "I asked him if he fully realized how he had affected so many lives... it was very humbling to him as it is to me and my children."
A procession traveled through the town in honor of Burk, beginning at Caldwell Parrish Funeral Home. The procession then headed south on John Wayne Drive through the heart of town, before turning west on West Jefferson Street to go toward the church, where his service was held.
Winterset residents lined the procession route to honor the memory of their police chief, and pay their respects to a man who "earned the trust and admiration of those he served," as is stated in his obituary.
Words of remembrance from the officers Burk worked with were also shared at the service.
"To put it simply, Ken was solid. He was solid in his support of us as people and as officers," Officer Ben Garrison remarked. "He was solid in his love for his family, his own and ours."
Burk passed away on Friday, July 21, after two decades of service to his community. He will be buried at Davis City Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the Burk family requests that memorials be directed to them. The funds will be used to establish a memorial fund in collaboration with the Winterset Police Department to preserve Burk's memory and service to the community.