Final Salute

Thomas Kerwood Burk, age 79, of Old Brooklyn Ohio, passed away on March 13, 2024. Born to the late Mary Virginia Kerwood Burk and Louis Harold Burk, Loving brother to Laura McGinness, Uncle to Donald and Larry McGuiness. Lifelong Best Friend and Extended Family to Danno Kishmarton (Angie), Tyler, Abby, Daniel, and Elena. As well as the rest of the Kishmarton and Giulivo family. Dearest friend of Michael Stanton and family.
Tom was a man that truly knew how to live life. He personally gave meaning to the saying work hard and play harder.
Tom served two Vietnam Tours in the Navy Seabees Construction Battalion.
When he returned home Tom bought a hardware store in Old Brooklyn, True Value, which he owned and operated for 29 years. This is where he met lifelong friends that tuned into his extended family, including Danno Kishmarton, Michael Stanton, Paul Hessoun.
During that same time Tom bought land in Chautauqua NY, where he built a beautiful lake house from the ground up, nail by nail with the help of his Uncle Larry and some friends. During the build spent many evenings and shared many meals with his truly loved neighbors the Brarkhams. Tom shared his home with those he loved, creating lasting memories, like tubing or water skiing across the lake, or taking snowmobile trips across the golf course or tails around NY.
Tom had an avid love for 50’s Diners, Malt Shoppes, Jukeboxes, and anything antique. He enjoyed spending time with those closest to him.
Tom will be remembered as hardworking, loyal, dedicated, an antique enthusiast, kind, funny, a creature of habit, and someone who loved “All the bells and whistles.”
Friends may call Monday, March 18th from 5PM until 8PM at the Sunset Chapel, located at 6245 Columbia Road, North Olmsted, Ohio. For those we are able to attend, there will be a Eulogy given at 7:30pm on March 18th. A graveside service with full Military Honors will be held the following day, Tuesday, March 19th at 10AM. We will meet at the Sunset Chapel at 9:45AM and we will then take our leave to Tom’s final place of rest.