Kristi Burik Obituary

Services for Kristi Lynn Burik, 69, of Lawrence will be at 2 p.m. Friday, January 31, 2025, at Trinity Episcopal Church. Ms. Burik died with her daughters by her side on December 30, 2024, after bravely battling ALS. She was born June 2, 1955, in Platteville, Wisconsin, the daughter of Martin and Janice Burik. Their family moved around the Midwest before settling in Ottawa, KS, in 1969. Kristi graduated from Ottawa High School in 1973 and attended Baker University and the University of Kansas, earning a bachelor's degree in music education in 1977. She was a singer, dancer and actress – performing at Worlds of Fun and touring with the Baker Playmen theater troupe. She married Michael Glenn Willhite on December 23, 1978. They lived in Lyndon, KS, and Manhattan, KS, where Kristi taught music, directed shows and performed in productions at Vassar Playhouse, Kansas State University and Manhattan Civic Theater. Kristi was diagnosed with bone cancer while Mike was simultaneously undergoing treatment for kidney cancer. She underwent multiple surgeries to replace the cancerous bones in her leg with an internal prosthesis and was eventually declared cancer free. While she subsequently required the use of crutches, a wheelchair or walker, those close to her know that this never slowed her down. Mike's cancer progressed and Kristi cared for him until his death in 1988 at age 35. She moved to Lawrence with their daughters in 1990 where she completed a master's degree in social work from the University of Kansas in 1992. While balancing school, work, activities and volunteering, Kristi lovingly raised her daughters – encouraging their interests, instilling their love of music and creating a deep, unbreakable bond. She worked as an elementary school counselor at Deerfield Elementary School for seven years and taught English at Southwest Middle School for 13 years, touching the lives of thousands of students before her retirement after 32 years in education. Kristi survived a stroke and gracefully endured other hardships, including her devastating diagnosis with ALS in 2024, while holding strongly to her eternal optimism. Whether performing in the Foundation Follies, choreographing the Lawrence Children's Choir, singing with the choir at Trinity Episcopal Church or directing her beloved grandchildren in a backyard production, the world was truly her lifelong stage. Survivors include her parents, Jan and Marty Burik, Baldwin, KS; two daughters, Katie Willhite Young, De Soto, KS, and Betsy Willhite Ostrander (Chris), Lawrence, KS; two sisters, Kim Burik Jordan, Tampa, FL, and Julie Burik, Leawood, KS; a brother, Jeff Burik, Plattsburg, MO; and grandchildren Connor Young, Annie Young, Shepherd Young, Marty Ostrander and Will Ostrander – as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins, close family members and dear friends. Kristi requested cremation. A Celebration of Life will be held Friday, January 31, 2 p.m. at Trinity Episcopal Church, 1011 Vermont Street in Lawrence, with reception to follow. The service will be live streamed at: https://www.facebook.com/TrinityLawrenceKS. Private interment will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, please consider memorial contributions to the DKG scholarship fund for women in education, Lawrence Children's Choir, American Cancer Society or ALS Association. Arrangements are with Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home of Lawrence.