GONE TOO SOON
WADE HASSELL BURK
12/8/1966 – 9/12/2025
Born in Fort Worth, Texas December 8, 1966, gone too soon, at the young age of 58, surrounded by his family and friends Friday, September 12, 2025.
Wade was born in Fort Worth, Texas, to his father, Hassell Horace Burk (better known as ‘Tudor’), and his mother, Carol Jean Burk, both originally from California. At the age of three Wade’s family moved to the San Joaquin Valley of California, back to their roots. They settled in Denair where Wade attended kindergarten. Elementary school years were spent in the Historic Jamestown and Sonora area, right in the middle of the “Gold Country.” Work caused the family to move to Merced for a brief time. The Burk family finally settled in Turlock where Wade has resided since 1980. Jr. high and high school years were spent at Hilmar Jr. and Sr. High School.
Wade’s pre-teen and early-teen years were spent a great deal learning the ropes of horsemanship from his father and grampa, Leroy Ross. After school and summers he would train horses on the Turlock Quarter Horse Ranch. Wade was a true modern-day Buckaroo, following in his father’s and grampa’s footsteps. He entered bull riding at the local fairgrounds, and won belt buckles to prove his craftsmanship in roping. Somewhere along the way, Wade picked up the nickname of ‘Cowboy’ and it stuck. All his friends and business acquaintances know him as ‘Cowboy.’
Cowboy was a workaholic with high standards of quality. He was a Jack-of-all-trades, learning the trade of air-conditioning early on. He was an electrician, carpenter, roofer, and landscaper. He could be counted on to do the job and always fair and reasonable.
As a hobby, Cowboy loved the sport of shooting. He would frequent a local spot for target practice and minimized the damage caused by squirrels and gophers.
If you were lucky enough to have known Cowboy, and became his friend, you were a friend for life. He had many and loved and cherished each one. He was polite, well-liked and respectful. He touched so many, and even though he was far from rich, if he had it and you needed it, it was yours. He always gave from his heart.
He frequented a local VFW Post, nick-named “The V,” shared a drink, played cards and pool, winning one of the local pool tournaments. It was there where he felt most comfortable and continued to build relationships.
Cowboy is survived by his mother, Carol, of Turlock; his children, Anthony and Nicole of Texas and Kayce of Indiana; his brother, Bill Burk, and sister-in-law, Theresa, of Turlock; his significant-other, Gina, of Turlock; grandchildren, Braylen, Grace, Raylynn and Cody; nieces and nephews, Billy, Jessica and Seth, and great-nephew, Bow. Cowboy was our beloved Son, Brother, Father, Grandson, Grampa, Nephew, Cousin, Uncle, and Friend. Ours is not to question the reason God chooses to take one home and leave another. We are deep in sorrow, and will miss him dearly, but we are comforted to know that he is out of his pain and suffering and one day we will meet again “on the other side” as Cowboy well put it.
Cowboy’s wishes were to be cremated, a burial is not scheduled. There are no services scheduled at this time. ‘The V’ is planning a Celebration of Life in his honor in the next couple of weeks.
We love you and miss you so much,
Your Family
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