Thomas Lee Burtzloff, 66, of Salina, passed away Friday, October 8, 2021. He was born December 19, 1954, in Rushville, Nebraska.
Tom worked in Law Enforcement for 33 years. Once he became a Cop, he could not imagine doing anything else. He enjoyed meeting various people he encountered and amazed himself at how small the world actually was, in all the commonalities we all have. He took great pride in all our law enforcement family. He liked to sit and count all the family members we had in law enforcement from, Highway Patrol, Local Police, Sheriff Depts., Border Patrol, DEA, State Dept. of Corrections, Out of State Agencies.
Family was the most important part of Tom’s life. If you asked him about his family his pets always some of the most important. Tom loved animals and animals loved him. On several occasions he would be at a call and a dog or even a cat would jump into is patrol vehicle ready to go with him. One day when Tom showed up at a door to serve a paper one of the dogs went and got his toy went out the door by Tom’s leg and jumped in his TK and was going with him. He would always stop and pull a deceased animal off the road, I asked once when it wasn’t a very large animal and wouldn’t damage a vehicle. He said out of respect to the animal. By doing this he discovered baby possums still alive when their momma wasn’t. Of course, he had to raise them up. Along with various other animals along the way, a Pigeon, Racoons, Rabbits, a Turkey he named Dinner that followed him around and a deer he named Dance. All which found him. Tom loved being outdoors enjoying nature planting trees and a garden, watching trees turn. One of his happiest times in life was living at lake Perry and going for a walk along the lake every night after work while the dogs ran through the water.
Tom was a loving husband and best friend to me (his wife, Tina) he helped raise Scott and Sarah attending all their sporting and school events being so proud of them every step along the way.
Tom was usually a quiet man, yet when he had something to say he could go on and on. He was very intelligent, rarely a subject he could not converse about. He would be amazed that he could have the whole world in his hand with his little cell phone. He was very generous; he always came home needing more cash because he gave away his last dollar or bought food or gas for someone. Many times, animals would be left behind after an accident when the owners were transported and needed to be housed or treated at Vet. The Vet wanted money prior, he always took care of it. Tom never put himself first. He gave so much and asked for so little. The only thing I ever remember him asking of me was one day he called me and said he would really love to have some mashed potatoes and gravy and fried chicken.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Walter and Silvia (Purintun) Burtzloff; son, Ti Burtzloff.
Survivors include his loving wife of 28 years, Tina Burtzloff of the home; children, Sarah Sloniger of Salina, Kansas, Scott Walker (Mandy) of Gypsum, Kansas; brothers, Harold Burtzloff (Ellen) of Tuson, Arizona, Robert Burtzloff (Jill) of Liberal, Kansas; sisters, Sharon Clark (Jim) of Auburn, Nebraska, Audrey Witt of Garden City, Kansas; grandchildren, Tilawn Burtzloff, Kyle Sloniger, Aaron Sloniger, Cayden Walker, Brayden Walker, Kelsei Walker.
Visitation will be 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM, Wednesday, October 20, 2021, at Roselawn Heights Memorial Chapel, 1920 East Crawford, Salina.
Funeral services will be held at 10:00 AM, Thursday, October 21, 2021, at Ellsworth Methodist Church 322 N. Douglas Ave., Ellsworth, Kansas 67439. Burial will follow luncheon at Natoma Cemetery, 402 N. 4th Street, Natoma, Kansas 67651.
Memorials may be made to
Hands of Hope Rescue or Kansas Cops (concerns of police survivors) in care of Roselawn Mortuary, PO Box 2322, Salina, 67402.
For online condolences contact Roselawn at
www.roselawnsalina.com