Lester Eugene Burbrink

Lester Eugene Burbrink, 85, died Friday, October 13, 2023 in Noblesville, Indiana. 

Born in Columbus on June 15, 1938, Lester was the son of Elmer E. and Irma (Meyer) Burbrink. He married Donna Sue Hollenbeck on October 5, 1958.  She passed away on June 7, 2010. 

Lester and Donna had two children, a son, Jeff (Jessica) Burbrink of Goshen, Indiana and a daughter, Kim (Mike) Pomerenke of Carmel, Indiana. There are six grandchildren: Philip (Lori) Burbrink of Mishawaka; Jeremy Burbrink of Ocean, New Jersey; Jocelyn (Hunter) Moore of El Paso, Texas; Janelle Burbrink of Hobart, Indiana; Kyle Pomerenke of Anderson, Indiana; and Alan Pomerenke (Stephanie) of Indianapolis, Indiana, as well as one adorable great granddaughter, Sienna Pomerenke.  He is also survived by 3 sisters-in-law: Shirley Burbrink, Charlene Burbrink, and Bonnie Biddle, as well as many nieces and nephews. 

Lester was preceded in death by Donna, his parents, and brothers Alvin, Marvin, Harlan, Larry, Lynn and Leonard.

Lester and Donna farmed near Columbus and were very active in the Bartholomew County community.  He was a lifelong member of St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, where he served as chairman of the congregation, an elder, and on the board of directors.  Lester served on the Farmers Marketing Association, and Premier Ag Co-op boards. He was a longtime board member of the Production Credit Association board, and the four-state Farm Credit Service of Mid America board of directors.  For many years, he was a supervisor for the Bartholomew County Soil and Water Conservation District, and assisted with the 4-H Beef program.

Lester served on the Bartholomew County Plan Commission, and upon his retirement and move into the city of Columbus, he served on the Columbus Plan Commission and the Columbus Housing Authority.  He and Donna enjoyed living on Sandy Hook Lake, entertaining family friends, and traveling with the St. Peter’s bowling team across the US.  He enjoyed woodworking, family and helping at the Henry Breeding Farm, where his unique Cummins powered International Harvester Model M can be seen.

As his health faded the past 3 years, Lester was under the care of loving daughter and son-in-law, Kim and Mike, where he enjoyed church, watching westerns, family, gardening and his bird feeders.

Funeral Information:

A celebration of Lester’s life will be at St. Peters Lutheran Church in Columbus, Indiana on Saturday, November 4. Visitation will begin at 9:00 a.m. with services beginning at 10:30 a.m. officiated by his long-time pastor Mark Teike.

A private burial will be held at Garland Brook Cemetery for the immediate family.