Burdette E. Burkey Obituary (1918

In Memory OfBurdette E. Burkey Burdette Edward Burkey, was born on a farm near Milford, Nebraska, March 10, 1918, the only child born to Edd and Barbara (Schweitzer) Burkey and passed away Monday, December 4, 2006 at the age of 88 years 8 months and 24 days. He was baptized at East Fairview Mennonite Church and as a young boy he attended Country School District #73, known as the Stauffer School, through the 8th grade. As a young man Burdette went to Washington State to pick apples, then to Iowa and Illinois to pick corn before returning home to work on the farm. On May 7, 1939 at East Fairview Mennonite Church he was united in marriage to Mary, the daughter of David and Phoebe Stutzman. To this union, four children Joan, Jerry, Gene and Kathy were born. In August of 1956, their son Gene was killed in a farming accident near their home south of Milford. Burdette farmed his entire life, raising corn, beans, beef and dairy cattle. In 1980 he had a farm sale and "retired". Following the sale he continued to raise alfalfa and quarter horses with his son Jerry. Burdette was a farmer and a cattleman to the end keeping up with market prices and farm operations. Burdette also enjoyed attending antique auctions and cattle sales. A member of Beth-El Mennonite Church, Burdette served as a church trustee. He was also a long-time member of the American Quarter Horse Association and has been honored for 26 continuous years of breeding quarter horses. In his later years, he loved puttering around the farm when he was able and enjoyed visits from his children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, cousins and friends. Grandchildren and great grandchildren all have wonderful memories of visiting Grandpa Burkey on the farm with gator and 4-wheeler rides and the candy dish always being full. To the very end he enjoyed seeing his family and getting the homemade cards, hugs and kisses from his great grandchildren. Burdette is survived by his wife of 67 years, Mary, Lincoln, children and spouses, Joan and Galen Schweitzer, Jerry and Susan Burkey, all of Lincoln, and Kathy and Bernie Stych, Cordova, nine grandchildren, Dave and Becky Hall, Palmyra, Amy and Don Danekas, Jr., Milford, Chris and Dan Payne, Pulaski, IA, Carrie Burkey, Lincoln, Tom and Jen Burkey, Lincoln, Tyler and Megan Burkey, Milford, Barry and Robin Stych, Omaha, Barb and Toby Knott, Omaha, Melanie Stych, Kansas City, 16 great-grandchildren, sister-in-law and brothers-in-law, Marcielle and Henry Friesen, Milford, Delmar Roth, Seward, several nieces, nephews and a host of other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents and his son, Gene, brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Norma and Merle Rediger, Edna and Emmanuel Oswald, Melvin and Hazel Stutzman, Wayne and Maxine Stutzman, Aden Stutzman, and Violet Roth. A Funeral Service will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, December 6, 2006 at Beth-El Mennonite Church with Rev. Audrun Seibert officiating. Interment will be in Blue Mound Cemetery, Milford. Visitation is from 2-9 pm on Tuesday with the family receiving friends and relatives from 6-8 pm at Lauber-Moore Funeral Home, Milford. Visitation is also one hour before service at the church on Wednesday. Memorials have been established to Beth-El Mennonite Church, The Monarch or to HoriSun Hospice. Pallbearers are, Tom and Tyler Burkey, Dave Hall, Don Danekas, Jr, Barry Stych and Toby Knott. The quartet of Kim Eberspacher, Don Danekas, Sr, Ken Fougeron and Karen Cook, accompanied by Peg Burkey sang "Step Into The Water". The grandchildren sang "Mansion Over the Hilltop" and the congregation sang "What A Friend We Have In Jesus". Arrangements were entrusted to Lauber-Moore Funeral Home, Milford.