Burkhalter, Esther Marie

BURKHALTER

Posted By: Lorelei Rusco (email)
Date: 10/27/2013 at 16:48:32

Burkhalter, Esther Marie -
Esther Marie Burkhalter, third child of William and Louise Burkhalter, was born Feb. 13, 1910 near Council Bluffs. IA. She died Saturday, Nov. 17, 1984 at the Greater Community Hospital in Creston, IA at 74 years of age.
Esther attended rural schools near Council Bluffs, was confirmed and joined St. Paul's Evangelical Church there.
She moved near Corning with her family in March, 1923. Esther attended Fairview Church where she was an active worker.
She was also active in the community until 1935 when she moved to the Mercer Center area with her family. There she attended the Mercer Center Church and taught Sunday School for many years.
After her mother passed away in 1945, she cared for her father and maintained the family home. When her father retired in 1948, they moved to Creston. She was a member of the United Methodist Church and taught second and third grade in the Sunday School Department. Esther was honored recently for 35 years of teaching. She was employed as secretary bookkeeper by A.V. Boyd and Sons, retiring from that position in 1977.
Not content to be idle and because she loved working with children, she began half day employment at the Child Care Center where "Aunt Esther" was loved by all the children as well as the staff. A broken wrist and hand surgery forced her to retire from the Day Care Center this past summer.
Esther enjoyed gardening and raising flowers.
Following her father's death in 1967, she remained in the family home until 1977 when she moved to Regency Park where she was one of the first residents in the new apartment complex.
Esther remained the hub of the family, recording all the births, weddings, deaths, reunions, and interesting news items concerning the family. She was a favorite aunt of all her nieces and nephews.
Esther was also a member of the Guild, Business and Professional Women's Club and the Chamber of Commerce.
Preceding her in death were her parents, one sister and two brothers-in-law.
Survivors include three brothers, Arthur and wife, Merle, Edwin and wife, Eleanor and Arnold and wife, Lavetta, all of Creston; four sisters, Rosenia Hunter of Burlington, IA, La Verne Bovaird and husband, Don of Prescott, Marie Brown and husband, Darrel, and Lillian Brown and husband, Roscoe, all of Lenox; 32 nieces and nephews, 56 great nieces and nephews, as well as other relatives and friends.
Services were held Tuesday, Nov. 20 at the United Methodist Church in Creston. Reverend Roger Russell officiated.
Interment was in the Graceland Cemetery at Creston.
Lenox Time Table, Lenox, Iowa Wednesday December 5, 1984