Bonnie Jean Burianek

On December 2, 1945, God looked down on Leighton Avenue and said, “I am going to bless Ralph and Christina with a precious child that will grow up to be the perfect mother”. God delicately crafted his gift to the world, putting so much thought in her creation.

God thought, “I need someone who will give more than she will ever receive. She will be so selfless with her time and her care that she will be an ever-present force in the lives of her family. She will help clean houses, decorate classrooms, and cook delicious meals. She will make at least double the food required to feed the family, so she can refill plates as she refills hearts. She will give without limit.” God smiled and said, “I need someone who says, “We don’t count here.” So, God made a mother.

God thought, “I need someone who embraces life’s imperfections. Her grace and understanding will be so powerful that hardworking shoulders will relax in her presence and worries will be released like the lines in their brows. She must be someone who smiles at the sight of accidental red filling on the kolache crust and laughs at the sight of a hole in the wall from moving a mattress. She must teach her family real life is measured not by the number of scratches, dents, and holes, but by the forgiving hugs that shows she cares more about her family than anything else.” God smiled and said, “ I need someone who says, “You can’t see it from it from O’ Street.” So, God made a mother.

God thought, “I need someone who can make my world even more magnificent by the work of her own hands. She will design flower arrangements for her families’ weddings that will be as beautiful as the love expressed in their vows. She will make homes so elegant at Christmastime they will be the envy of the North Pole. Her love of all that glitters will be an outpouring of the beauty within her.” God smiled said, “I need someone who says, “I love the glitz!” So, God made a mother.

God thought, “I need someone whose love is so great, it will be passed down from generation to generation. I will not only make her a mother of three, but a grandma of six, and a great-grandma of many more. She will be there for them during birthdays and graduations, but she will also be there for them in life’s smaller moments like breakfasts and board games. Hers will be a love so strong that you can feel it pressing upon you like the sunrays.” God smiled and said, “I need someone who says, “I love you all the way around the world and back.” So, God made a mother.

When God was finished, He looked at her and asked, “My dearest Bonnie, have I told you today how much I love you?” to which she replied, “I know you do, Lord. I can see your love reflected in my children’s eyes when they smile and laugh, I feel your love every time my grandchildren hug me. I hold onto your love every time I gather my great grandchildren in my arms.”

God knew in that moment that his work was perfectly complete. And we thank God every day for His gift. For on that December day, God didn’t just make a mother, God made our mother.

Bonnie J. (Walker) Burianek, 70, of Pleasant Dale, passed away on July 6, 2016. Surrounded by those she loved dearly, she was joyously welcomed into eternal life by her Lord and Savior in the company of her parents and her brother Ronnie. Bonnie was born on December 2, 1945 in Lincoln, Nebraska to Ralph and Christina (Hromas) Walker. As a child, Bonnie always helped her mother with the housework and loved playing with her brother Ronnie. She attended Lincoln Public Schools. Bonnie married Ronald Burianek on September 30, 1961 at the Catholic Church in Seward, Nebraska. They were married for 54 years. They were blessed with three children, six grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren. Bonnie loved her family more than anything in the world and dedicated her entire life to their care and well-being. She taught them how to live a full and happy life, encouraged them to pursue their goals, and modeled for them that family always comes first. Those around her often noticed the strength of Bonnie's family. Bonnie showed her family how much she loved them in many ways. She hosted weekly family dinners that were always made from scratch. She loved making kolaches, dumplings, dressings, and desserts with all the fixings imaginable. She learned the secret tricks to make these special Czech dishes from her mother. When Bonnie wasn't in the kitchen, she spent her time helping her husband and sons on the farm hauling bales, cutting thistle, fixing fences, and running cattle. Bonnie loved searching at auctions, garage sales, and stores for unique treasures for her family to enjoy, buying anything from golf carts to park slides to a shed full of bikes for her grandchildren. Her home was an oasis for her family, providing a protective place for everyone. Bonnie loved spending time at her family cabin in Fremont, Nebraska. Her favorite pastime there was riding on their pontoon while talking and laughing with her family. She always insisted that the boat stop in a special spot so she could watch her grandchildren jump off and swim in the lake for a while. She also enjoyed sitting on the deck her family built and watching the sun set while enjoying s'mores. Not only did she give her love to her family, but she also gave it to many others in the service of her work. Bonnie was a florist for over 40 years at Mr. J's, Hy-Vee, and Crete Floral. She also worked in elementary schools for many years, including Pyrtle, St. John's, and Riley in Lincoln. Bonnie had a special love for children and a gift for building relationships with children who needed it the most. She was rewarded by the love she received from the children in return. During this time she continued to use her decorative talents to adorn the homes of her family with beautiful arrangements, garlands, and wreaths. She took special pride in making breathtaking centerpieces and d'cor for the weddings of her grandchildren. Later in life, Bonnie was committed to taking care of her elderly mother. She ensured her mother got nothing but the best care imaginable, reciprocating the love and devotion she was given as a child. In this way, Bonnie continued to model for the next three generations the cyclical nature of caring for family. This is her most enduring legacy. Bonnie was a very special woman who was loved by all of those blessed to have known her. She is going to be missed dearly and remembered daily. Bonnie is survived by her husband, Ronald; daughter, Lori (Greg) Teichmeier; sons, Brad Burianek, Rod (Christle) Burianek; grandchildren, Nicole (Andy) Janssen, Tiffany (Austin) Young, Lindsay (Jeremy) Fishel, Stephanie Burianek, Brandon (Caitie) Burianek and Brittany (Andrew) Troyer; great-grandchildren, Isabella, Harper, Madison, Brooklyn, Paizleigh, Witten; nephews, Scott (Michelle) Walker, Tim (Camie) Walker; Aunt, Georgia Hromas; special sisters, Jeanne England, Judy Shelburne, Judy (Bob) Miller, Colleen (Jerry) Bruening; cousins, Joan (Jim) Helter. She is preceded in death by her parents; her brother, Ronnie Walker; and Uncle Fred Hromas.