Gaelyn Burk

March 29, 1948 – October 1, 2023

Gaelyn Alene Willms Burk passed away peacefully on Sunday, October 1, 2023, surrounded by family, after losing her courageous year and a half battle with cancer.

Gaelyn was born on March 29, 1948 in San Antonio. She was the second of three daughters to Leroy and Olinda Willms. She graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School in 1966 and enrolled at Texas Lutheran College to pursue her lifetime dream of being an elementary school teacher. At Texas Lutheran she was very active and, among many things, was a proud member of Beta Alpha Sigma sorority serving as President in 1969. She was honored as Homecoming Queen in 1970. She graduated in 1970 with her Bachelor of Arts degree. She then entered Trinity University to earn a Master of Education degree in 1971. She thoroughly loved her over 25 year career as both an elementary teacher and an elementary school counselor.

At Texas Lutheran she met her soulmate and the love of her life, Frank Burk. On July 22, 2023 they celebrated 51 years of marriage. They are proud parents of three sons – Eric, Toby and Ryan.

Gaelyn was a very active and loving wife, mother, grandmother, and a friend to countless people. She enjoyed scrapbooking, quilting, yardwork, reading, travel and various other activities. She and Frank loved National Parks and visited 53 of them. They traveled to all 50 states with memories from each one. They had several international trips and cruises, which they shared with wonderful friends.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Leroy and Olinda Willms; grandparents, Toby and Emilie Willms and Otto and Emma Strackbein and her brother-in-law, Charles Burk. She is survived by her husband, Frank; son Eric and wife, Vanessa; son Toby and wife, Kayla; and son Ryan. She leaves behind four granddaughters - Hailey Pumphrey, Taylor Burk, Brooke Burk and Lydia Burk. She is also survived by sister Diane Schubert and husband, Jim, and sister Lynette Willms. Her surviving in-laws are Jim Burk, Linda Wood, Paul Burk, Sandra Burk and Jo Ann Peterson and husband, Neil.

Funeral services are scheduled at St. John's Lutheran Church in downtown San Antonio at 10:30am Saturday, October 7th, with visitation Friday at Sunset Funeral Home at 1701 Austin Highway from 4:00-7:00pm.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Texas Lutheran University Frank and Gaelyn Burk Scholarship, St. John's Lutheran Church general fund, or the charity of your choice.