Arnold A. Burkey

Arnold Ardell Burkey was born on a farm south of Milford on August 14, 1922 to Joseph and Mattie (Troyer) Burkey, the fourth of five children. He graduated to his heavenly home on Wednesday, April 6, 2011, at his residence in Heartland Park in Seward, Nebraska at the age of 88 years 7 months and 23 days. He attended country school near Milford and later graduated from Dorchester High School with the Class of 1940. Soon after graduation he began his farming career. Arnold was united in marriage to Phyllis Bowen on May 26, 1945 at the Friend Methodist Church and to this union two sons, Tim and Sid were born.
In the mid-1950's he briefly took classes at Hesston College in Kansas as he tested a call to ministry. Arnold returned to the farm, realizing his call to ministry was agriculture. In the 1970's Sid and Tim became involved in Arnold's farming operation and enjoyed testing ideas and farming with Dad.
In his later years, Arnold continued to work with the boys on the farm and never really retired as his work passion for the farm was also his hobby.
Arnold always made the time to attend his grandchildren's sports and music activities and also encouraged many other young people. In his spare time he enjoyed reading and doing volunteer service for the Mennonite Mission Board, the Iowa-Nebraska Conference Mission Board, and served in several other capacities in the church. He was a charter member of Bellwood Mennonite Church and served as an Elder. He was very active in the Gideons International organization and had a great passion for supporting the work of Hesston College. He also loved researching on his computer.
Arnold is survived by his wife, Phyllis, Seward, sons and daughters-in-law, Tim and Bonnie, Dorchester, Sid and Peg, Milford, six grandchildren and spouses, Brant and Dawn Burkey, Denton, Krista and Steve Yutzy-Burkey, Philadelphia, PA, Kendra Burkey and husband, Nathan Bartel, Newton, KS, Matt Burkey and his wife, Kristy Fornwald, Baltimore, MD, Anna and Jayme Dick-Burkey, Dorchester, and Jed and Natelie Burkey, Memphis, TN, seven great-grandchildren, Rowan, Sayers and Jairus Burkey, Bowen, Elli and Josie Dick-Burkey, and Isaac Burkey, sister and brother-in-law, Betty and Mel Yoder, Goshen, IN, many loving nieces, nephews and a host of other relatives and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents, brother and sister-in-law, Kenneth and Carolyn, sisters and brothers-in-law, Lucinda and Dick Bachman, Doris and Dale Inbody.

Funeral Services will be held at 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, April 10, 2011 at Bellwood Mennonite Church, Milford with Rev. David Miller officiating. Interment prior to service at Andrew Cemetery, Friend. Visitation on Saturday, 10am - 5pm at Lauber-Moore Funeral Home, Milford with the family greeting relatives and friends at Bellwood Mennonite Church from 6-8pm. Memorials have been established to the Bellwood Benevolent Fund or to Gideons International. Arnold's six grandchildren are pallbearers. Arrangements have been entrusted to the care of Lauber-Moore Funeral Home, Milford. Condolences may be sent to the family at laubermoore.com.