The Way We Say Goodbye...

It is with a heavy heart that I said goodbye to the most influential man in my life. On July 9th, 2019, while I was working on what was supposed to be the final chapter of Resurrection, (Book 5), my father, Kenneth J. Burger, passed away. On July 19th he was returned to the dust from whence we all came.

Dad was a rugged, tough, but fair man, a John Wayne of sorts. Wise, smart, insightful, with character and ethics, that in my years on this Earth, I rarely see paralleled. He was a good man with a generous nature who enjoyed working with his hands. A friend and protector of critters, creatures and animals of all sizes, Heaven has gained a man without rival, to be guardian of the Rainbow Bridge.

An absolute pioneer in Police Canine training, it was astounding to see how many men and women Dad mentored in his 35 years of training dogs and the far-reaching effects he had on the Law Enforcement Canine profession. He was a nationally known Master Trainer and had many career firsts in the Police Canine world. I was genuinely touched and extremely appreciative of the professional love and admiration he received by the many officers in attendance - to learn just how much they respected him, his wisdom, his love & dedication to canine work. I was told by his peers, that he readily shared his knowledge and experience, never turning anyone away seeking help with Police Canines.

My deepest gratitude goes to the members and leadership of the North American Police Work Dog Association, (NAPWDA), for their unwavering, brotherly support - not only for Dad, but for our family as a whole, it has been truly remarkable.

"It's not what you gather but what you scatter that tells you what kind of life you've lived." ~Helen Walton