Jerry Lee Burkett, 71, 1082 E. 375 North, Rochester, passed away Thursday at his residence.
He was born in Rochester on Oct. 1, 1939, to Walter L. and Mildred V. (Haggerty) Burkett. Jerry grew up on his family farm, in Richland Township, as the youngest of three brothers, sharing his childhood with Dick and Don. In 1957, he was a proud graduate of Richland Center High School. In 1959 he graduated from the Indianapolis Barber School. Returning to Rochester he interned under Don Overmyer. Later he owned and operated The Barber Shop for just over a decade.
Jerry married Janet Rae Urbin on Aug. 1, 1959, in the EUB Church of Rochester. Their union of nearly 52 years produced two children, Jeralyn and Jay. Over the years the family tree grew, adding four grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Jerry's memberships include the Richland Center United Methodist Church, the Eagles Lodge, Moose Lodge, and Manitou Veterans of Foreign Wars. In his earlier years he answered fire calls as a volunteer with the Rochester Fire Department for over 24 years. He worked on tall towers for NIPSCO since 1968, retiring in 1996 as a structure mechanic. As an avid gardener Jerry annually put out a truck patch and shared his bountiful harvest with family and special friends.
With a fondness for equines, Jerry and Janet owned a fine herd of Appaloosa horses with Don Smiley. They enjoyed success showing them in halter classes. Jerry was a 4-H leader for a few years. More recently he enjoyed gathering with his card buddies at the Eagles for spirited games of gin, euchre and rummy. He and Janet enjoyed travel adventures to Florida, Montana, Colorado, Wyoming, with a favorite locale and more frequent visits to Laughlin, Nev. He'd made plans with close friends to journey out west on the Amtrack later this summer.
Paramount in his life was his family. Jerry especially enjoyed spoiling his grandchildren. He is also remembered to be loyal and devoted to the friendships he made - once a friend, always a friend. Many times putting others needs before his own, always there to lend a hand. Jerry enjoyed relaxing in his easy chair with his canine companion, Otis a Lhasa Apso mix.
Jerry is lovingly remembered by his wife, Janet Burkett, at home; daughter Jeralyn Hines and husband Steven, Rochester; son Jay Burkett and wife Robin Koch, Chicago, Ill.; four grandchildren, Casey Brown, Kylee Fenstermaker, Caleb Fenstermaker, and Brent Hines and wife Stacey; three great-grandchildren, Karman Slack, Alyssa Brown, Caymen Brown; two brothers, Dick Burkett and wife Margaret, Rochester, and Don Burkett and wife Jackie, Rochester; five nephews, Dave, Randy, Bill, Pat and Mike Burkett; sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, Jill Leazenby, Joy and Dr. Tom Troutman, Jack and Jean Urbin, and Brian Markle; canine companion Otis; and numerous cousins also survive
He was preceded in death by his parents, Walter and Mildred Burkett; his father- and mother-in-law, John and Ruth (Nellans) Urbin; sister-in-law Jeanne (Urbin) Markle; grandson Scott Hines; and three cousins, Barb Walters Lewis, Bob Miller, and Tona Miller.
A celebration of the life of Jerry Lee Burkett is at 5 p.m. Sunday in the Good Family Funeral Home, 1200 W. 18th St., Rochester, with the Rev. Don Nunemaker officiating. Friends may visit with the family from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday in the funeral home. He will be laid to eternal rest in the Richland Center Cemetery
He was born in Rochester on Oct. 1, 1939, to Walter L. and Mildred V. (Haggerty) Burkett. Jerry grew up on his family farm, in Richland Township, as the youngest of three brothers, sharing his childhood with Dick and Don. In 1957, he was a proud graduate of Richland Center High School. In 1959 he graduated from the Indianapolis Barber School. Returning to Rochester he interned under Don Overmyer. Later he owned and operated The Barber Shop for just over a decade.
Jerry married Janet Rae Urbin on Aug. 1, 1959, in the EUB Church of Rochester. Their union of nearly 52 years produced two children, Jeralyn and Jay. Over the years the family tree grew, adding four grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Jerry's memberships include the Richland Center United Methodist Church, the Eagles Lodge, Moose Lodge, and Manitou Veterans of Foreign Wars. In his earlier years he answered fire calls as a volunteer with the Rochester Fire Department for over 24 years. He worked on tall towers for NIPSCO since 1968, retiring in 1996 as a structure mechanic. As an avid gardener Jerry annually put out a truck patch and shared his bountiful harvest with family and special friends.
With a fondness for equines, Jerry and Janet owned a fine herd of Appaloosa horses with Don Smiley. They enjoyed success showing them in halter classes. Jerry was a 4-H leader for a few years. More recently he enjoyed gathering with his card buddies at the Eagles for spirited games of gin, euchre and rummy. He and Janet enjoyed travel adventures to Florida, Montana, Colorado, Wyoming, with a favorite locale and more frequent visits to Laughlin, Nev. He'd made plans with close friends to journey out west on the Amtrack later this summer.
Paramount in his life was his family. Jerry especially enjoyed spoiling his grandchildren. He is also remembered to be loyal and devoted to the friendships he made - once a friend, always a friend. Many times putting others needs before his own, always there to lend a hand. Jerry enjoyed relaxing in his easy chair with his canine companion, Otis a Lhasa Apso mix.
Jerry is lovingly remembered by his wife, Janet Burkett, at home; daughter Jeralyn Hines and husband Steven, Rochester; son Jay Burkett and wife Robin Koch, Chicago, Ill.; four grandchildren, Casey Brown, Kylee Fenstermaker, Caleb Fenstermaker, and Brent Hines and wife Stacey; three great-grandchildren, Karman Slack, Alyssa Brown, Caymen Brown; two brothers, Dick Burkett and wife Margaret, Rochester, and Don Burkett and wife Jackie, Rochester; five nephews, Dave, Randy, Bill, Pat and Mike Burkett; sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, Jill Leazenby, Joy and Dr. Tom Troutman, Jack and Jean Urbin, and Brian Markle; canine companion Otis; and numerous cousins also survive
He was preceded in death by his parents, Walter and Mildred Burkett; his father- and mother-in-law, John and Ruth (Nellans) Urbin; sister-in-law Jeanne (Urbin) Markle; grandson Scott Hines; and three cousins, Barb Walters Lewis, Bob Miller, and Tona Miller.
A celebration of the life of Jerry Lee Burkett is at 5 p.m. Sunday in the Good Family Funeral Home, 1200 W. 18th St., Rochester, with the Rev. Don Nunemaker officiating. Friends may visit with the family from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday in the funeral home. He will be laid to eternal rest in the Richland Center Cemetery
Jerry Lee Burkett, 71, 1082 E. 375 North, Rochester, passed away Thursday at his residence.
He was born in Rochester on Oct. 1, 1939, to Walter L. and Mildred V. (Haggerty) Burkett. Jerry grew up on his family farm, in Richland Township, as the youngest of three brothers, sharing his childhood with Dick and Don. In 1957, he was a proud graduate of Richland Center High School. In 1959 he graduated from the Indianapolis Barber School. Returning to Rochester he interned under Don Overmyer. Later he owned and operated The Barber Shop for just over a decade.
Jerry married Janet Rae Urbin on Aug. 1, 1959, in the EUB Church of Rochester. Their union of nearly 52 years produced two children, Jeralyn and Jay. Over the years the family tree grew, adding four grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Jerry's memberships include the Richland Center United Methodist Church, the Eagles Lodge, Moose Lodge, and Manitou Veterans of Foreign Wars. In his earlier years he answered fire calls as a volunteer with the Rochester Fire Department for over 24 years. He worked on tall towers for NIPSCO since 1968, retiring in 1996 as a structure mechanic. As an avid gardener Jerry annually put out a truck patch and shared his bountiful harvest with family and special friends.
With a fondness for equines, Jerry and Janet owned a fine herd of Appaloosa horses with Don Smiley. They enjoyed success showing them in halter classes. Jerry was a 4-H leader for a few years. More recently he enjoyed gathering with his card buddies at the Eagles for spirited games of gin, euchre and rummy. He and Janet enjoyed travel adventures to Florida, Montana, Colorado, Wyoming, with a favorite locale and more frequent visits to Laughlin, Nev. He'd made plans with close friends to journey out west on the Amtrack later this summer.
Paramount in his life was his family. Jerry especially enjoyed spoiling his grandchildren. He is also remembered to be loyal and devoted to the friendships he made - once a friend, always a friend. Many times putting others needs before his own, always there to lend a hand. Jerry enjoyed relaxing in his easy chair with his canine companion, Otis a Lhasa Apso mix.
Jerry is lovingly remembered by his wife, Janet Burkett, at home; daughter Jeralyn Hines and husband Steven, Rochester; son Jay Burkett and wife Robin Koch, Chicago, Ill.; four grandchildren, Casey Brown, Kylee Fenstermaker, Caleb Fenstermaker, and Brent Hines and wife Stacey; three great-grandchildren, Karman Slack, Alyssa Brown, Caymen Brown; two brothers, Dick Burkett and wife Margaret, Rochester, and Don Burkett and wife Jackie, Rochester; five nephews, Dave, Randy, Bill, Pat and Mike Burkett; sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, Jill Leazenby, Joy and Dr. Tom Troutman, Jack and Jean Urbin, and Brian Markle; canine companion Otis; and numerous cousins also survive
He was preceded in death by his parents, Walter and Mildred Burkett; his father- and mother-in-law, John and Ruth (Nellans) Urbin; sister-in-law Jeanne (Urbin) Markle; grandson Scott Hines; and three cousins, Barb Walters Lewis, Bob Miller, and Tona Miller.
A celebration of the life of Jerry Lee Burkett is at 5 p.m. Sunday in the Good Family Funeral Home, 1200 W. 18th St., Rochester, with the Rev. Don Nunemaker officiating. Friends may visit with the family from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday in the funeral home. He will be laid to eternal rest in the Richland Center Cemetery
He was born in Rochester on Oct. 1, 1939, to Walter L. and Mildred V. (Haggerty) Burkett. Jerry grew up on his family farm, in Richland Township, as the youngest of three brothers, sharing his childhood with Dick and Don. In 1957, he was a proud graduate of Richland Center High School. In 1959 he graduated from the Indianapolis Barber School. Returning to Rochester he interned under Don Overmyer. Later he owned and operated The Barber Shop for just over a decade.
Jerry married Janet Rae Urbin on Aug. 1, 1959, in the EUB Church of Rochester. Their union of nearly 52 years produced two children, Jeralyn and Jay. Over the years the family tree grew, adding four grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Jerry's memberships include the Richland Center United Methodist Church, the Eagles Lodge, Moose Lodge, and Manitou Veterans of Foreign Wars. In his earlier years he answered fire calls as a volunteer with the Rochester Fire Department for over 24 years. He worked on tall towers for NIPSCO since 1968, retiring in 1996 as a structure mechanic. As an avid gardener Jerry annually put out a truck patch and shared his bountiful harvest with family and special friends.
With a fondness for equines, Jerry and Janet owned a fine herd of Appaloosa horses with Don Smiley. They enjoyed success showing them in halter classes. Jerry was a 4-H leader for a few years. More recently he enjoyed gathering with his card buddies at the Eagles for spirited games of gin, euchre and rummy. He and Janet enjoyed travel adventures to Florida, Montana, Colorado, Wyoming, with a favorite locale and more frequent visits to Laughlin, Nev. He'd made plans with close friends to journey out west on the Amtrack later this summer.
Paramount in his life was his family. Jerry especially enjoyed spoiling his grandchildren. He is also remembered to be loyal and devoted to the friendships he made - once a friend, always a friend. Many times putting others needs before his own, always there to lend a hand. Jerry enjoyed relaxing in his easy chair with his canine companion, Otis a Lhasa Apso mix.
Jerry is lovingly remembered by his wife, Janet Burkett, at home; daughter Jeralyn Hines and husband Steven, Rochester; son Jay Burkett and wife Robin Koch, Chicago, Ill.; four grandchildren, Casey Brown, Kylee Fenstermaker, Caleb Fenstermaker, and Brent Hines and wife Stacey; three great-grandchildren, Karman Slack, Alyssa Brown, Caymen Brown; two brothers, Dick Burkett and wife Margaret, Rochester, and Don Burkett and wife Jackie, Rochester; five nephews, Dave, Randy, Bill, Pat and Mike Burkett; sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, Jill Leazenby, Joy and Dr. Tom Troutman, Jack and Jean Urbin, and Brian Markle; canine companion Otis; and numerous cousins also survive
He was preceded in death by his parents, Walter and Mildred Burkett; his father- and mother-in-law, John and Ruth (Nellans) Urbin; sister-in-law Jeanne (Urbin) Markle; grandson Scott Hines; and three cousins, Barb Walters Lewis, Bob Miller, and Tona Miller.
A celebration of the life of Jerry Lee Burkett is at 5 p.m. Sunday in the Good Family Funeral Home, 1200 W. 18th St., Rochester, with the Rev. Don Nunemaker officiating. Friends may visit with the family from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday in the funeral home. He will be laid to eternal rest in the Richland Center Cemetery
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