SEYMOUR
Mr. John Steele Burkhart, 80, of Seymour, passed away Friday, December 13, 2019 at home surrounded by his loving family.
He was born at Schneck Medical Center, the eldest of three sons of Charles A. and Susie J. Burkhart. He graduated from Shields High School in 1957. He attended Bowling Green State University in Bowling Green, Ohio.
On February 23, 1958, John married Dottie, his wife of sixty-two years at the First United Methodist Church in Seymour. Their marriage was blessed with three children, Douglas (Joy) Burkhart, Beverly Rollins and William “Bill” Burkhart. They have five grandchildren Tiffany Heisey, Chris Tiemeier, Jimmy Burkhart, Ashley Burkhart and Joey Rollins and 20 great-grandchildren. He is survived by his brothers Mark (Anne) Burkhart and Joe Burkhart.
He was preceded in death by his parents, son William Burkhart, and son-in-law Joe Rollins.
In 1959, John started his career with Cummins Engine Company as a shop hourly employee de-burring injector bodies and ending as the facilities manager at Cummins Industrial Center in Seymour. During his career, John had assignments in Columbus, Indiana, Fostoria, Ohio and ending in Seymour, with the opening of the Cummins Industrial Center in 1976. While at the Industrial Center, he had temporary assignments in Great Britain, Japan and India.
In November of 1990, when Mayor Bill Bailey was elected District 66 State Representative, John was appointed to complete Bill’s term as Mayor of the city of Seymour. He was then elected and served three terms as mayor. John was the first Mayor that served three consecutive terms as Mayor of Seymour. Even in retirement, John worked part-time at Home Depot and volunteered through AmeriCorps Jackson County at the Seymour library and the Jackson County Visitor’s Center. He also served as coordinator for Mayor Luedeman’s Gateway Project to improve the appearance of US 50/Interstate 65 interchange.
In 2003, he was awarded a Sagamore of the Wabash by then Governor Joe Kernan, the highest award given to a civilian for civil service in the State of Indiana. In 2012, he was named chamber of commerce’s Citizen of the Year. John is a past member of the Seymour Jaycees and the Fostoria Ohio Jaycees. He was awarded a Jaycee International Senatorship in 1975 by the Ohio Jaycees.
Other civic and fraternal memberships include SERTOMA, Elks, and Masons. He has served on board of Directors on the Anchor House, Habitat for Humanity of Jackson County, Jackson County Red Cross, Boys and Girls Club and was President of the Schneck Medical Center Foundation Board of Directors, a position he held for the majority of his over 40 year tenure on the Foundation Board.
Funeral services will be conducted by Voss & Sons Funeral Service at First United Methodist Church on Wednesday, December 18 at 1 p.m. with Rev. Rick Bell officiating. Burial will follow at Riverview Cemetery.
Family and friends may call at First United Methodist Church on Tuesday from 2:00 to 8:00 p.m. and Wednesday from 12 p.m. until time of service. A Masonic service will be conducted on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. by FA&M Lodge #146.
Memorials may be written to Don & Dana Myers Cancer Center or First United Methodist Church, in care of Voss & Sons Funeral Service. John has asked that everyone donate blood if you are able in his name, as that is what kept him being the “Son of Seymour” for an extra year.
Online condolences may be given on the funeral home website at www.vossfuneralservice.com.
