Greenbush - John Burkel, 81, died Friday, February 5, 1999 at the Greenbush Nursing Home.
Funeral services were held at 10 a.m. on Monday, February 8 at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church in Greenbush with Father Don Braukmann officiating. Jeanne Novacek was the organist, and vocal music was provided by Sara Ellenson. Gift bearers were Marci Burkel, Nicole Jackson, Jana and Jody Nelson, Tina McKeever and Angie Stauffenecker. Dorothy Brazier was the proclaimer. Ministers of Holy Communion were Bernard Gonshorowski and Jerome and Dee Burkel.
Casketbearers were David Burkel Jr., John D. Burkel, Steven K. Burkel, Richard Johnson, Jay Ness and Jon Ness. Burial was in Blessed Sacrament Cemetery in Greenbush. Gieseke Funeral Chapel of Greenbush was in charge of the arrangements.
John Peter Burkel was born on April 28, 1917 in Greenbush, the son of Peter and Rose (Kulas) Burkel. He attended school at Greenbush and was baptized and confirmed at St. Aloysius Catholic Church in Leo.
On November 8, 1939 John was united in marriage to Isabelle Hedin in Greenbush. The couple farmed and raised turkeys just south of Greenbush for many years. Isabelle died on December 23, 1996. For the past three years, John had been a resident of the Greenbush Nursing Home.
John is survived by two sons, David (Dinah) of Park Rapids and Keith (Janet) of Greenbush; two daughters, Irene (Larry) Ness of Roseau and Kathy (Jeff) Vacura of Thief River Falls; 11 grandchildren; 27 great-grandchildren; three brothers, George Burkel of Thief River Falls, Matt (Helen) Burkel of Badger and Tony (Pauline) Burkel of San Juan, TX; and two sisters, Elizabeth (Ray) Schaller and Susie Schires, both of Greenbush.
He was preceded in death by his wife; parents; two brothers, Peter and Barney; and one grandson, Mark Burkel.