Timothy John Burks, 51, of Bowling Green, Ohio, passed away November 11, 2026 after fighting cancer for 4 years with unwavering strength and determination for his girls.
Tim was born June 26, 1975, in Bowling Green, the son of the late Marvel Smestad and her husband, John Smestad, who raised him from the time he was eleven, with the love and support of his aunt and uncle, Ruth and John Eschedor.
Tim graduated from Bowling Green High School and played the tuba in band. He spent most of his life in Bowling Green.
Tim had one of the strongest work ethics. After working various jobs, he found his trade: for 13 years he worked as an electrician, and for the last five he was a proud member of IBEW Local 8 where, despite his protests everywhere else in life, he answered to “Timmy.” Tim found friendships and camaraderie amongst a brotherhood he didn’t even know he needed.
Tim was an avid Star Wars Lego collector and Star Wars movie buff. He loved classic country music, was super fond of Randy Travis, and the man loved a steel guitar. Their daughter Bristol was named for Bristol, Tennessee… a little bit for racing and Tim’s love of Tony Stewart.
His mom gave him a love of camping, the outdoors and of gardening, which grew into a love of canning; he made the best spaghetti sauce and relish. He passed that love of camping and Lego collecting down to his girls. Tim raised Ashleigh largely on his own, with help from his mom. Tim was the best dad. He considered being called “Dad” an honor. If his girls wanted something, they had it. Not always in a material sense, he simply loved providing for them. He loved watching them be their unique little weird selves and loved watching his girls do the things they loved. He was a quiet cheerleader but a strong and steady one.
He met his wife, Liz, online in a message he sent to a profile her friend had created for her without telling her. He kicked off the conversation asking about Tennessee: Liz had just moved back from living there, and Tim loved it and dreamed of moving there one day. They have been together ten and a half years and married for eight. They always believed they were meant to find each other, that it was divine intervention. Their song was “Keeper of the Stars,” and it says plainly: “It was no accident, me finding you, someone had a hand in it, long before we ever knew.”
It is an understatement to say everyone loved Tim. If you spent more than 5 minutes with him, you loved him. He had a great sense of humor and was incredibly witty. He was passionate about everything- even when he was wrong. He was calm in chaos. He loved with his whole heart and cared about people so genuinely.
He is survived by his wife, Liz; his daughters, Ashleigh Nicole, Bristol Renee, and Calleigh Lexington; his brother, Todd Buehrer; and his sisters, Vicki Clark and Teresa Richardson. He also leaves behind numerous nieces and nephews, his brothers of IBEW Local 8, who were family to him, his church family at Hope Lutheran, and so many friends and other family who loved him.
He was preceded in death by his mother and stepfather, Marvel and John Smestad; his brothers, Dennis Buehrer and Troy Burks; and Bobbie Oglesby, the mother of his daughter Ashleigh.
Memorial donations may be made to the family for the continuing care of Tim’s girls.
A visitation will be held on Tuesday, November 24, 2026, from 11:00 a.m. until the time of Tim’s service at 1:00 p.m. at Dunn Funeral Home located in the Historical District of Bowling Green, Ohio 408 W. Wooster St. 43402. Atonn Smeltzer will officiate.
“Do. Or do not. There is no try.”- Yoda
“The Force will be with you. Always.”- Obi-Wan Kenobi
