Obituary of Norbert "Bud" T. Pekarek

Longtime Burlington resident, Nobert Thomas (Bud) Pekarek, 87, passed away April 11, 2021, at Grace Manor Care Center in Burlington, Colorado. Bud was born on January 01, 1934, in Okeene, Oklahoma, to Norbert Jerome and Albina (Morkes) Pekarek. He was the younger of two children. His sister, Mary Agnes Nault, resides in Okeene, Oklahoma. Bud’s early years were spent on the farm in Okeene. He graduated from the local St. Mary’s Catholic School in Okeene. He went to the University of Notre Dame, where he was on the swim team for a year, then transferred to Oklahoma State University for two additional years. Bud met Myrtle Ruth Turner while attending OSU, and they were married August 28, 1954. They returned to Okeene where Bud first worked at the Southard Gypsum Company, then at the Okeene Milling Company as a welder, and later, as a carpenter for various construction projects throughout the area, including work as a foreman for Kellogg industries. Bud started his own custom harvest crew which took him to Olney, TX, Manter, KS, Burlington, CO, Kimball, NE, parts of Wyoming and South Dakota. In 1974, Bud and his family moved to Burlington, Colorado, to grow the family farming operations. He purchased land and a small home from Harvey Lambert and he and his family lived there until he built his current home on the property. Over the years, Bud became a well-known farmer in Eastern Colorado, as well as an advocate for farming, ranching, the local school, and community. He had a natural ability to communicate with others and he enjoyed promoting eastern Colorado’s farming, ranching, and rural interests. He was a co-founder and president of the Dry Bean Association for the State of Colorado, as well as the Bean Company of Burlington Marketing Corporation. Bud was also the Dry Bean Association and National Farmers Union Lobbyist for Disaster Relief Payments for US Farmers for at least a decade. He was nominated and selected by Dan Glickman, Secretary of Agriculture, during the Clinton Administration as an advisor for the U.S. Wheat Commission. Bud served as a board member for Kit Carson County Fire Department for many years, served as the vice -president and board member of the Burlington School District for approximately thirty years, advocated for new business ventures around the community, and continued to represent farmers’ interests with members of the Colorado legislature until recent years. Bud was also active in his church community, both in Okeene, Oklahoma, and Burlington. He served as a parish council member of St. Anthony’s Catholic Church and St. Catherine of Sienna Catholic Church, and was a lifetime member of the Knights of Columbus. He enjoyed church picnics, helping with church fish frys and made sure that the local county fair and events had plenty of cherry pies and cakes. Like many farmers, Bud was a proud, conservative, American, who happened to physically be in the United States Capital, representing the farmers of America, on 9/11. This experience, while unforgettable, solidified Bud's firm belief in a self-sufficient and a strong United States of America. Bud was a strong supporter of family, capitalist business concepts and American values. Bud is preceded in death by his parents, Norbert Jerome and Albina Pekarek, his wife, Ruth, and his son, David.He is survived by his eight children: Nancy Pekarek Post (Joe) of Cache, Oklahoma; Alice Pekarek Ulrich (Darren), of Denver, Colorado; Steven Pekarek (Jennifer) of Denver, Colorado; Angela Pekarek Berry (Kris) of Burlington, Colorado; Laura Pekarek of Tampa, Florida; Linda Pekarek Niebur of Denver, Colorado; Diana Pekarek (Randy Condit) of Denver, Colorado, and John Pekarek (Pam) of Burlington. Bud is also survived by his sister, Mary Agnes, nineteen grandchildren, fourteen great-grandchildren, two great-great grandchildren, as well as two nephews, Tom and Mike, and a niece, Teresa; cousins, and many friends. Memorials may be made to the Knights of Columbus in Norbert's memory and may be left at or sent to Love Funeral Home, 377 15th Street, Burlington, Colorado 80807.