Leonard Conley Burbach

Leonard Conley Burbach was born in Yankton, SD on April 5, 1948 and lived the first 6 years of life in Cedar County, NE. When almost 6, his family relocated to Norfolk, NE, which he considered his hometown. He attended Catholic Schools there, graduating from Burns High School in 1966. He attended Norfolk Junior College for one year.

He was inducted into the Army in February of 1968 and served in the Vietnam War and was awarded the Purple Heart. He toured the country on a “chopper” (souped-up motorcycle) in the mid-1970s. He visited many relatives in the process and took on odd jobs to support himself. Years later he referred to motorcycles as “suicide machines” and sold the last one he had after someone rear-ended him. In his younger adult years, he enjoyed camping, hunting, and fishing.

He returned to Nebraska, working at Omaha Stationery for many years. In later years he worked driving a bus for Omaha Public Schools. He was fond of his Burns High School classmates and was grateful to touch base with many of them at his 50th class reunion in 2016. He suffered poor health and credits the VA medical system for keeping him alive for many, many years. He attended family holiday gatherings as his health and the weather permitted. The last family gathering he was able to participate in was Thanksgiving 2018 with siblings and other family members. It should be noted that good friends, Jack and Lisa Hollins of Little Sioux, IA were very supportive of him for decades and were particularly helpful as his health declined.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Leonard and Theresa (Conley) Burbach; and siblings Kenneth and Jay. He is survived by siblings: Rich Burbach of Central City, NE; Jodi Christensen of Waterloo, NE; and Nancy (Mel) Schaecher of Battle Creek, NE; as well as 4 nieces, 3 nephews, and numerous great nieces and nephews.

Memorial service is 11:00a.m. on Friday, January 11, 2019, at the Hoy-Kilnoski Funeral Home. Inurnment at Omaha National Cemetery at a later date.