PEACHTREE CITY, Ga. — Jack Burnett Jr., president of Union Dry Cleaning Products, died peacefully at home on October 5 after a year-long battle with cancer. He was 56.
Burnett started at Union in 1990 as one of its first hires, says Vic Williams, who will be stepping into Burnett’s role as president of the company.
“It's huge what he did for the company,” Williams says. “Much of the company’s success comes from the team he built here. He was a fair man, loyal and giving to his employees. He didn’t just look out for himself — he looked out for the entire team at Union.”
Williams, who worked with Burnett for 32 years, says that his leadership style gave Union a “family” feel.
“People don’t really leave our company,” he says. “Jack is a big reason as to why we’ve had very little turnover through the years. One of the things I learned from him was how to treat people — your team, your distributors and everyone else you work with. He was also a great dad, and I learned a lot about being a father from him, as well.”
When not at work, Burnett was passionate about travel and all things Disney, but most of all spending time with his family.
Burnett is survived by his wife Kristin; his sister Lisa Jurchenko (Andrew Jurchenko); his three daughters: Emma Burnett Webb (Chris Webb), Claire Burnett Wilson (Max Wilson) and Alyce Burnett Head (Wesley Head); and his granddaughter, Eleanor (“Ellie”) Webb.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation.
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