James K. Burk

James Burk peacefully passed away on Saturday, February 7, 2026, in Wichita, Kansas at the age of 81. He was born to James “Jack” and Frances (Ewertz) Burk on March 29, 1944, in Wichita, Kansas.

He has four siblings, Ken Burk, Judy Burk, Bob Burk and Patty Burk.

James attended St. Joseph Catholic School, Kapaun Mt. Carmel Catholic High School and Wichita State University. He later met and married Cheryl Whitney. They had three children together, Tara “Olive” Burk Giovannetti, Whitney Burk and Erika Burk before they divorced.

James was a fantasy and science fiction writer/author. He worked at Rector’s Bookstore for approximately 20 years. He enjoyed the customers. He also enjoyed working at Washer Specialties, where he had great co-workers and a supportive boss and work environment. James was always an avid reader with a wild imagination. He started writing stories in high school and continued to write, even publishing a number of books throughout his life, until dementia took his ability to write, then read.

James was a gunslinger at Joyland during the 1970's, where he and his gunslinger buddies would entertain crowds of park visitors with their Old West antics.

James attended as many local and regional science fiction conventions as he could. He really was in his element at cons - getting to spend time with old friends and making new friends every con. He was regularly invited to be a panelist with fellow writers and gamers and looked forward to the costume contests where he would use thrift store finds to create such characters as "Bubba the Barbarian." In the 1970's, James was on the AmberCon con committee, planning cons here in Wichita.

James loved playing Dungeons & Dragons with friends, spending decades of Saturday nights getting together with friends to go on adventures and kill monsters.

James had a flair for fashion, often wearing all black with a thin silk scarf around his neck. When he wasn't wearing black he loved to find the most garish and colorful shirts or pants to wear. And he was always wearing a hat, either a red beret with a French insignia badge pin, or more often, his cowboy hat with hand beaded hat band. He also loved to wear his charro suit for special events.

Though James didn't travel just to travel, he appreciated trying new things and new cuisines, and meeting people from every type of background and corner of the world. James enjoyed learning about customs and cultures either firsthand, or from friends and acquaintances.

James was heartbroken when his middle daughter, Whitney, passed from breast cancer in 2016. A bright light within him was permanently extinguished when she passed. James was at Whitney's bedside as she made her journey from this world to the next. We are comforted to know that they are once again together sharing hugs and stories.

James made lifelong friendships in every activity he took part. He ran for Wichita City Council in the 90’s. Though he didn’t win a seat, he put his name in the hat to make positive changes he felt were needed in Wichita at the time.

James and family were parishioners of St. Joseph Parish for approximately 20 years. James moved to the east side of town and became a parishioner of Blessed Sacrament, acting as an usher and bringing communion to patients at St. Francis who were unable to get out/to Mass. James left the church when his middle daughter, Whitney, died from breast cancer in 2016 and never returned to Catholicism.

James' love for his children and grandchildren was second to none. Though he loathed to fly, he would fly to San Francisco and Seattle every chance he could to spend time with his daughters, grandchildren and their spouses/partners.

James was preceded in death by his parents; siblings, Pat Burk, Ken Burk, Bob Burk and daughter, Whitney Burk. He is survived by his sister, Judy Robichaux, her husband Ronald and their son, Michael Robichaux; daughter, Tara (Olive) Giovannetti, her husband, Kenny Giovannetti; daughter, Erika Burk; grandchildren, Orion Burk-Poole, Olive Burk-Poole and Scarlet Giovannetti.

Services are pending and will be announced at a later date.

Memorial contributions can be made in his name and loving memory with Breast Cancer Research Foundation. James suffered from dementia, but he was such a loving father that he would prefer donations go to finding a cure for breast cancer, which took his daughter away 10 years ago at the age of 41.