Jay Burkhart
Jay Burkhart, 82, was born to Allen and Bertie Burkhart on
July 25, 1929, in Elizabethtown, Pa., and went to be with our Lord on Tuesday
(July 3, 2012).
He married Luella Mae Pankratz on Sept. 29, 1950, in Newton.
He served our country in the Korean War from 1951 to 1954 in the quartermaster
of the Fifth Army Area and received a Korean service medal with three Bronze
service stars and a United Nations service medal. He was employed by Lear Jet
and Raytheon aircraft companies, and upon retirement, he continued part time
for the North Newton Police Department, where he had worked for a total of 37
years.
He had his private airplane pilot's license and in his
younger days enjoyed taking his family and friends up for private rides. He was
an active member of the Nazarene church in Newton for 60-plus years and during
that time served in the areas of Sunday school secretary, church board member
and head usher.
Jay was a very proud and loving father and grandfather. He
is survived by wife, Luella; brothers, Park, Glenn and Nein; and sisters, Joyce
and Dea. His children are son, Cary, wife, Darlene, and their two sons, Jeffery
and Aaron; son, Lynn, wife, Ruth, their son, Stephen, wife, Nicole, and their
three daughters, Rebecca, Victoria and Amber; son, Marc, and daughter, Grace;
daughter, Laura; and daughter, Cynthia Dunaway, husband, Rick, and daughters,
Tanya and Melissa Leithoff.
Viewing will be from 1 to 8 p.m. today (July 6, 2012) at
Broadway Colonial Funeral Home in Newton, with family gathering at 6 p.m.
Graveside service will be at 10 a.m. Saturday (July 7, 2012) at Eastlawn
Cemetery in Zimmerdale, and a memorial service will follow at 11 a.m. at First
Church of the Nazarene in Newton, with Pastor Charles West officiating.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to First Church of
the Nazarene.
