Bruce Burkholder

Bruce Gerald Burkholder, 75, of Bend, Oregon, died Friday, July 20, 2007, near Santiam Junction, Oregon.

He was born February 3, 1932 in McPherson, Kansas, the son of Clarence D. and Rosalie (Kuns) Burkholder.

Bruce graduated from McPherson High School in 1950, and Kansas State University in 1956. He served two years in the U.S. Navy and was stationed in Mobile, Alabama.

On June 6, 1953, he married his high school sweetheart, Alice C. Hedlund, at the New Gottland Lutheran Church near McPherson, KS. She died September 11, 1974. In 1976, he married Marilyn Ann Dezuba. She died in the same motorcycle accident that took Bruce's life.

Bruce worked for 20 years for Pittsburgh-Des Moines Steel Company, and was plant manager for the Des Moines operation and later at the main plant in Pittsburgh.

He retired young and moved to Key West, FL where he restored historic houses and fished a lot. In the 1980's, he moved to Trout Lake, WA to be closer to his children, who all had moved to the Pacific Northwest. His last residence was in Bend, OR where he was very active in the Elks Club, being named Elk of the Year this spring. He was also a member of the American Legion. He motorcycled, snow-mobiled, built furniture, and spent a lot of time drinking coffee with his friends at the "Liars Corner" at the Elks Club.

Survivors include: three sons. Kurt, Rex, and Todd Burkholder, all of Portland, OR; two daughters, Jody Burkholder of Portland, OR and Gretchen Burkholder of Vashon, WA; three sisters, Janis Albert of Lakeland, FL, Barbara Nordling of Lawrence, KS and Elaine Sayler of St John, KS; and eight grandchildren.

A memorial service to be held at the New Gottland Lutheran Church, on Saturday, August 11, 2007 at 1:00 PM. Inurnment will take place at McPherson Cemetery immediately following the memorial service.

Memorial donations can be given to "Gramma's Place Fund" c/o Bend Elks, 63120 Boyd Acres, Bend, OR 97701, in loving memory of Bruce. Donations may also be sent in care of Stockham Family Funeral Home, 205 N. McPherson, KS 67460. To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Bruce Burkholder please visit our Sympathy Store.