Scripture Readings
Hymns
- Amazing Grace
- On Eagles’ Wings
Obituary
Ricky Leroy Burleigh was given life by his creator and was born on November 19th, 1962 to Barbara and Jerry Burleigh. He was baptized as a child of God on Dec. 23, 1963. On April 3, 1977, he was confirmed in the Christian faith and fed the life-giving body and blood of Jesus. He was united in holy marriage to Joanie on August 1, 1984 and God blessed them with 38 years of life together. God also blessed them with three children, Jessica and her husband Kaleb and their three children: Kylie, Adlee, and Kayden; Nicole and her husband Justin and new baby on the way, and Allison and her husband Mac and their children Karter, and brand new baby Raylee Grace.
Rick graduated from Gordon High School, then went on to get an Associate of AG degree and a Bachelor of Science in AG Economics degree from the University of Nebraska at Lincoln. Rick married Joanie Hull on September 1, 1984, Gordon, NE. They lived for a short time in Gordon, before moving to Lincoln. In 1997 they moved back to Gordon where they raised three daughters, Jessica, Nicole, and Allison.
He worked for Security First Bank as the president for over 20 years. He was a dedicated member of the Gordon Volunteer Fire Department. He served on the Rotary Club, the City of Gordon Planning Commission and on the Gordon Memorial Hospital Board. He was an active member of Grace Lutheran Church.
Rick enjoyed hunting, fishing, spending time with his children and grandchildren, riding his motorcycle, lifting weights and he loved being a fireman.
On April 24, 2023, God called Rick home to rest in the peace of heaven with Jesus Christ his Savior. Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints.
He is survived by his mother Barbara Burleigh of Gordon; his wife Joanie of Gordon, NE; his daughter Jessica (Kaleb) Metzger and their children Kylie, Adlee and Kayden of Bennington, NE, daughter Nicole (Justin) Lanum of Gretna, NE and daughter Allison (Mac) Madsen and child Karter of Hanna, WY; two siblings Debra (Larry) Coleman of Beatrice, NE, and Steve (Mary) Burleigh of Colby, KS; his mother-in-law Kelly Hull of Gordon, NE; two brothers-in-law Mike (Paula) Hull of Kearney, NE and Tim (Carolyn) Hull of Estes Park, CO; as well as many nieces and nephews.
Sermon
In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
I know when you go to someone else’s church service the responses and readings feel like something to be gotten through, and you’re thinking, just get to the point. But today, of all days I want you to pay attention to them. They are not my words. They are not made-up by men of my church. They are holy promises and blessed assurances from the mouth of the living God.
“If we have been united with [Jesus] in a death like His, we shall certainly be united with Him in a resurrection like His.”
“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for Thou art with me.”
“Your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.”
“This slight momentary affliction is preparing us for a weight of glory beyond all comparison.”
“He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.”
“I am the resurrection and the life,” says the Lord, “he who believes in Me will live, even though he dies”
Romans 6; Psalm 23; Colossians 3; 2 corinthians 4; John 3; John 11
These are promises that God made to Rick. These are promises that God kept to Rick through Christ Jesus our Lord. Jesus said He was going away to prepare a place for Rick in the Father’s house and now He has said “welcome home.” Rick has felt the strong grip of the right hand of Jesus that knew the work of the shop and our now forever marked where He offered Himself as a sacrifice. Rick has looked into the holy face that was spat upon and now shines in glory, he has seen the noble head that wore the crown of thorns, seen the side where our Lord was pierced for our transgressions, out of which the blood and water of our healing and life flowed. Rick’s life began with a baptism into the life of Christ. Now his life is hidden forever with Christ in God.
Our community has lost a pillar. A husband and father and grandfather. A son. A brother. A neighbor. A friend. Someone you worked beside. Someone who helped when you needed it most. Everyone lost something a little different. It is a testament to God to see the blessings he poured out through the life and love and service of Rick. Fire-safety week will be different this year without “firefighter Rick” laughing from under his helmet, watching the kids do their best to stand up under the weight of a grown man’s heavy jacket.
I knew when he called or sent me a text something important was happening. The best were when called to ask if I would be able to baptize a new grandchild. He called when his father was dying, and when you all found out about the cancer. He wanted to hear the simple promises of Jesus for the people he loved. He wanted prayers to be made to the One Who loved us and gave Himself up for us.
What do we do now? It’s dark and where do you turn? Which way do you go? There is a weight that’s been put on your shoulders and its pressing you into the ground and there is that feeling in your body and heart and mind all at once and you don’t know how you can ever get up. There is a weight that has to be lifted, but it feels like it’s stapled to the floor and your grip is slipping. Turn to Jesus, who strengthens you so that you can do all things. To Christ who guides you through the darkness with His rod, His staff, His cross. To Him who is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in time of trouble.
Don’t let the blessings God gave through Rick stop now. His grandchildren up on your shoulder are the Little Lambs of Jesus. When you deal in money and land do it as those helping to distribute God’s gifts. When go into trouble to help those in need, go in the confidence of Christ who stood with the men in the fiery furnace. The same Lord who blessed you in your home all these years is the Lord who will help you still.
And continue in this until your end. None of us knows when that will be. Don’t wait. Be ready now. Get others ready. Because in Christ, even though we die yet shall we live, and believing in Him we will never die. If you miss Rick, follow your Good Shepherd, who will lead you home to where he is, and were He has a place for you as well. Make sure those grandkids make it there to rejoice with grandpa and see the face of their Savior together. Raylee won’t get to see grandpa smile on this earth, even though Rick surely rejoiced with the angels at her birth and will rejoice even more at her baptism; make sure she sees his face shining with the reflected glory of Christ, smiling to welcome her to God’s house. Place your lives in Jesus’ nail-scarred hands. See His light that shines in the darkness. Do the work He prepares for you. Walk in His steps. You make it home, too. Amen.
