They had yet another volunteer commitment to fulfill — and immediately jumped in their car to head home, change clothes and then drive to a nearby Hy-Vee store where a diapers and wipes drive was being held for the Offutt Air Force Base Airmen’s Pantry. That drive ended up raising more than 340 boxes of diapers and wipes for military families in need.

For the Burkes, who met at St. Edmond High School, that Saturday in late October was par for the course they’ve set for the past three decades as volunteers in the Omaha area.

For Shawna Forsberg, president and CEO of Midlands United Way who related this story, it is one of many examples of why they were presented the award that has honored some of Omaha’s most prestigious citizens. They include 2014’s recipient, Susie Buffett, eldest child of Warren Buffett.

“They’re tireless and kind,” she said of the Burkes. “They’re also incredibly humble. I don’t have enough words to articulate how special they are.

“They didn’t really want to receive this award,” she added.” But I told them it’s important you set an example for others. I had to try to talk them into it. They’re just so humble. We give the Citizen of the Year award with the hope it inspires others to get more involved.”

Forsberg added that the “most remarkable thing” about the Burkes is that they’re the only people in Midlands United Way’s 52-year history to twice lead communitywide campaign drives, which she called “one of the most intense volunteer jobs you can find.”

Midlands United Way raised $32 million in the past fiscal year that was distributed to more than 100 organizations in the Omaha area and is ahead of that schedule in the current fiscal year, Forsberg said. Its largest individual donor is Warren Buffett, who gives in the range of $1.5 million annually.

The Burkes’ inspiration for their volunteerism goes back to their Fort Dodge roots and parents who were active in their church communities and helping others.

“Both Tim and I watched our parents helping neighbors, helping those who needed it,” Terri said.

Tim Burke hails from a Fort Dodge family of five children, raised by Jim and Cleo Burke. His father, an Army Korean War veteran, worked for years at the George A. Hormel packing plant and when it closed, as a process server with the Webster County Sheriff’s Department. His mother was employed at Sacred Heart School until she retired. Tim has two older sisters — Teresa, married to Joe Flattery, living in Lincoln, Nebraska, and Maureen, married to Marc White, in Castle Rock, Colorado.; and two younger brothers, Pat, married to Joyce, in Montrose, Colorado, and Mike, married to Cindy Balster, in Fort Myers, Florida.

Terri is also from a family of five children, born in Carroll to Dave and Rita Roth. In 1965, they moved to Fort Dodge where her father, who also served with the Army in Korea, was a master mechanic for many Fort Dodge companies including Iowa Beef Packers and a janitor at St. Edmond. Her mother worked at the Holiday Inn in Fort Dodge until the couple moved to Castle Rock, Colorado., and managed a luxury apartment complex. They retired to Altoona, Iowa. Terri has an older brother, Tim, married to Nadine Hill from Fort Dodge and now living in Bettendorf, and three younger sisters who are also married to Fort Dodge residents — Sandy, married to Mike Harvey, lives in Fort Dodge; Jane, married to Dennis Baker, lives near Granger, and Patti, married to John Niles, lives in Ankeny.

The Burkes’ last living parent, Terri’s mother Rita, died Nov. 25 and her services were scheduled Dec. 5 at Sts. John and Paul Catholic Church in Altoona. Tim’s mother and father died in 2000 and 2001 respectively, and Terri’s dad in 2022.

Terri and Tim, both 64, are members of the St. Edmond Class of 1978 and began dating their senior year. Tim was active in sports, chorus and theater, and Terri was a cheerleader for wrestling and girls basketball. Both attended Iowa Central Community College, earning associate of arts degrees in 1980, and Tim earned a bachelor’s degree from Buena Vista University in 1982 through classes taken at Iowa Central. They were married in 1982 at Corpus Christi Catholic Church.

Tim’s first job was with Iowa-Illinois Gas and Electric Co. and Terri worked at Central Telephone Co. before they moved from Fort Dodge to the Des Moines area in 1987 where he worked for People’s Natural Gas Co. There, he earned a master’s degree in public administration from Drake University before moving in 1989 to the Omaha area to lead People’s Nebraska operations.

In 1997, Tim joined Omaha Public Power District, which provides electric service to eastern Nebraska including Omaha, as an executive and in 2015 was selected as its president and CEO. He retired in July 2021.

In March 2023 through July 2023, Tim served as president and CEO of the Omaha Chamber of Commerce and was part of the selection committee for the current leader of the chamber, Heath Mello.

Tim is currently the president of the Offutt Community Development Corp., which is focused on projects at Offutt AFB — headquarters of the U.S. Strategic Command.

Tim is also involved with many military and local organizations including Air Force Chief of Staff Civic Leader Program, Strategic Command Consultation Committee, Offutt Air Force Base Advisory Council, Partnership for Kids, Business Ethics Alliance, Bellevue Chamber of Commerce and City of Papillion First Responders.

After moving to the Des Moines area, Terri served on the home front as mother to their three boys, and over the years worked with several companies part-time and also focused most of her spare time volunteering for many not-for-profit and community organizations.

When new to Omaha, Terri said she found volunteering as a way to meet people and she began volunteering at St. Mary’s Catholic School in 1989 with the kindergarten class, working with students who needed assistance with math, reading and writing. She continued her kindergarten volunteering at St. Matthews Catholic School in 2008 for several additional years. In 2003, she began to also volunteer with the Children Hospital’s Pet Therapy program, working with pet owners and engaging and taking pictures of the children and their dogs and soothing the young patients and their families. She continued this volunteer work for five years until being asked to participate in Children’s NICU Baby Rocking program.

In May 2009, Terri began to volunteer with the Mercy Housing after-school program. She volunteered there for seven years working with young Sudanese students and families on academics, life and family activities. She was recognized for her volunteer activities by the United Way of the Midlands and received the Outstanding Volunteer Award in 2011 and was also recognized as the Volunteer of the Year by Mercy Housing for her continued volunteer efforts at its Crestview location.

“In my volunteer work of three decades, the one that brought the most to my life would have been working with kids from the Sudanese community,” she said. “It was very fulfilling, seeing kids you worked with achieve and graduate from high school now and move into careers of their own.”

The Burkes’ current focus has been on children and families that are either disenfranchised or struggling and the military community at Offutt AFB, Tim said. Just before Thanksgiving, they took part in a turkey drop for 600 airmen. On Dec. 20, they’ll be part of a turkey, ham and beef drop to about 600 airmen and their families. Single airmen who live in dorms at Offutt are given food certificates and Amazon gift cards. About $165,000 was raised for the Thanksgiving and Christmas drops.

For 25 years, Tim has been part of a band, the Shenanigans, performing with two of his sons and a retired Air Force veteran, Bryan Kaufman, and his two sons, that plays free of charge at not-for-profit and fundraising events.

“We play Irish pub sing-alongs, and any music from the Beatles to Johnny Cash to John Denver, the Eagles and more,” he said

Their seven grandchildren, ages 2 to 11, are a focus of the Burkes’ lives. Their three sons are married and live within two to three miles in Papillion (an Omaha suburb) — Matthew, married to Rachel and the parents of three children; Pat, married to Jourdan, with two children, and Joe Stanieich-Burke and his husband Peter, with two children. Matthew and Pat were born at Trinity Regional Hospital in Fort Dodge.

The Burkes’ volunteer gene has continued with their sons and families — including involvement in Junior Achievement, the Partnership for Kids mentoring organization, coaching youth sports, homeowner association boards, the Nebraska Children’s Home, Nebraska State Chamber, high school volleyball coaching, company United Way Committees and the United Way Bridge Builder Committee.

In accepting the Citizens of the Year award, just before they headed to their next volunteer assignment, Terri Burke said:

“When we reflect on our journey, it reminds us that no one achieves this recognition alone. We are deeply thankful for our family, friends and other community leaders whose unwavering support and encouragement have been a significant part of so many wonderful and necessary programs and initiatives. Thank you for believing in our shared vision and for your dedication to the causes that make a difference in the lives of so many people and families.”

And Tim Burke added:

“We are also grateful to the inspiring individuals and United Way organizations in our community that have shown us the power of service, resilience and compassion. It is through your commitment to helping others that we can truly create lasting change. Whether it’s through volunteering, advocacy, or simply lending a listening ear, each act of kindness contributes to the beautiful fabric of our society and community.”