I.J. ""Burk"" Burkhart

I.J. ""Burk"" Burkhart, well-known, reputable Colorado concrete contractor, passed away at his home in Denver on April 24, 2013. Burk was born on July 31, 1918 to Isadore Henry Burkhart and Mary Oster in a rural farm community in Saint Peter and Paul Catholic Parish in Kinsley, Kansas. He had three brothers, Leon, Paul and Elred and three sisters, Monica, Gertrude and Celesta. He attended Saint Peter and Paul Catholic School, and worked on the family dairy farm. He grew up during the depression, and farmed during the great dust bowl. At age 24, Burk joined the Navy and served as a Gunner's Mate Second Class aboard four different Naval Vessels in the Pacific Ocean Theater during World War II. He also served as the ship barber. He was honorably discharged on Christmas Day, 1945. Following his service in the Navy, Burk used the G.I. Bill to study agricultural math and animal husbandry. Burk met his wife, Joan Helen Kirrane, while on a weekend leave from the Navy, in New York City, NY. They were married on May 18, 1946. Burk and Joan moved to Stratton, Colorado, where Burk farmed 1, 600 acres of wheat and raised livestock. In 1955 Burk and Joan moved to Denver, Colorado and purchased their first home. Three years later Burk started his own concrete forming business, Burk's Concrete Forming, which became his life's work. Throughout his career Burk did concrete work on some of the most well-known buildings in the state of Colorado. Burk and Joan's daughter, Deborah Joan Burkhart, was born in 1960. The family made their home in Denver and they have been members of Most Precious Blood Catholic Parish since that time. Burk was always a faithful Catholic believer and a loving family man. In 1964 his wife, Joan, passed away. Burk is survived by his daughter Deborah Burkhart and his sister Monica Reilley. He had ten nephews and six nieces. In his spare time Burk enjoyed woodworking, playing golf, watching baseball and pheasant hunting with his brothers and nephews on the farm in Kansas. He will be remembered as a kind-hearted and soft-spoken man of faith. Visitation will be held on Wednesday, May 1, 4-8 p.m. at Horan & McConaty, 1091 South Colorado Boulevard, Denver. A Rosary, followed by a Funeral Mass, will be held on Thursday, May 2, at 10:15 a.m. at Most Precious Blood Catholic Church, 2200 South Harrison Street, Denver. Interment will follow at Mt. Olivet Cemetery, Wheat Ridge. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Burk's name to the Denver Hospice, 501 South Cherry Street, Suite 700, Denver, Colorado 80246. Please share your memories of Burk and condolences for the family by clicking the ""Sign Guestbook"" tab below.