John Burkhart

John E. Burkhart, 92, of Sibley peacefully passed away at 3:41 am Tuesday June 27, 2023 at The Heritage Health Nursing Home in Gibson City. A Celebration of Life for John and Marlid will be held 12:00-3:00 pm on Saturday July 15, 2023 at the Sibley Town Hall. Memorial Contributions may be made to the Lee Lowery American Legion Post #568.

John was born October 30, 1930 in Wakenda, Missouri. A son of Ora Stephen and Mary Ellen Cushman Burkhart. He married Marlid Luy on December 24, 1955 in Decatur. She passed away December 28, 2022.

He is survived by two daughters Myra (Bob) Stephens of Sibley and Charlene (Perry) Lane of Melvin. Eight grandchildren Bryan (Tiffany) Rollins, Shaun Adkins, Erin (john) Brown, Tiffany (Jason) Knox, Kristin (Gaston) Guerrero, Jenn (Marcus) Wright , Jaime Adkins and Robby Stephens and nineteen great grandchildren. A brother Chuck Burkhart of Decatur and a sister Belva (Bruce) Tarrant of Ava, Missouri also survives. He was preceded in death by three daughters Kathy Sue, Christina Marie and Nancy Jo Adkins and a sister Janelle Kraft.

John served in the United States Army from July 12, 1948 - June 18, 1956. He was a 60 year member of the Lee Lowery American Legion Post #568, also the Elliott Amvets Post #276; VFW Post #6289 and Sibley Masonic Lodge #761. He proudly wore badge #1 as the first Ford County Deputy Sheriff. He worked on Wabash/ Norfolk and Western Railroad for 19 years, and owned Sinclair Station in Gibson City in 1968. He owned and operated his own trucking business Burkhart’s Trucking. After his retirement he enjoyed working in his yard and spending time with family.