Darlene Burkholder

Celebration of Life Service for Darlene Burkholder will be held on Friday, August 2, 2019 at 11:00 a.m. at Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege, Nebraska with Pastor Jean Clayton officiating.  A private family inurnment will be held at the Prairie Home Cemetery at Holdrege prior to the services.

Susie "Darlene" Burkholder, 90 years of age, of Holdrege, passed away on Tuesday, July 9, 2019, at Holdrege Memorial Homes.  Darlene was born January 18, 1929, at Ragan, Nebraska, the eldest of two daughters born to Ernest "Earl" and Stella "Gladys" (Burns) Walden.  She received her education from Ragan Public School, and graduated as Valedictorian from Ragan High School with the class of 1946.  She then pursued higher education to receive her teaching credentials for Normal Training at Kearney State Teachers College in Kearney, Nebraska.  She then taught at Orleans, Nebraska.

On September 19, 1948, she was united in marriage to Gordon James Burkholder and to this union four children were born:  John, Susan, Judy and Peggy.  They made their home in Republican City, Nebraska for five years, where Gordon worked on the railroad.  In 1954, they moved to a farm south of Ragan.  The couple engaged in farming, and raising livestock.  Besides helping on the farm, Darlene was also employed by Becton-Dickinson in Holdrege for almost 30 years prior to her retirement.  On January 23, 1984, Gordon preceded her in death.

Darlene was a member of the First Baptist Church in Holdrege, where she was active with the ladies circle throughout the years.  She also enjoyed her friendship bonds formed in the 4-Mile Square Club in rural Harlan County, and was active as a 4-H Leader when the children were young.  Darlene was a talented seamstress, enjoyed tending to the garden, and loved attending her grandchildren's activities.

Besides her husband, Gordon and her parents; she was preceded in death by her sister, Eunice Ward and her husband, Bill; brother-in-law, Norm Burkholder and his wife, Mickey; and sister-in-law, Joyce Dorothy and her husband, Ray.

Darlene leaves to celebrate her life; her four children:  John Burkholder and his wife, Joyce of rural Holdrege; Susan Heer and her husband, Larry of rural Naponee, Nebraska; Judy Schepler and her husband, Wayne of Holdrege; and Peggy Lienemann and her husband, Dave of rural Hildreth, Nebraska; ten grandchildren:  John Burkholder Jr. and his wife, Lisa; Jason Burkholder; Jared Burkholder and his wife, Sheri; Shelly McDowell and her husband, Chane; Philip Heer and his wife, Megan; Staci Nutt and her husband, Josh; Todd Schepler and his wife, Jacqueline; Aften Melton and her husband, Jonathan; Brianna Lienemann; and Aaron Lienemann and his wife, Angela; twenty great-grandchildren; one great-great grandson; a host of nieces; nephews; other relatives and friends.

Memorial Book Signing will be held on Thursday, August 1, 2019 from 4:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. with the family greeting friends from 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. at the Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege.

A memorial has been established in Darlene's honor, and kindly suggested to the family for later designation.

Expressions of caring and kindness can be sent to the family at www.nelsonbauerfh.com.

The Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege is in charge of the arrangements .