Joseph King Burkart, age 83, died May 6, 2021. He is survived by his devoted wife, Jeanne Jenner Burkart, his three children; Craig Burkart (Rita Zimpelman Burkart) of Plainfield, IL, Bradley Burkart (Christine Johnson Burkart) of Cincinnati, OH and Melissa Burkart Kennedy (Shawn Kennedy) of Cincinnati, OH; by 8 grandchildren; Ashleigh Burkart Reyes, Lauren Burkart Backus, Kristin Burkart, Alexandra Burkart Wiles, Kyle Burkart, Madison Burkart, Megan Kennedy and Aiden Kennedy; and by 5 great-grandchildren; William Burkart Reyes, Lillian Stringham, Aria Backus, Charles Reyes and Ella Backus. He is also survived by his sister Cynthia Burkart Valz (Thomas Valz) of Ft. Thomas, KY.
Joe Burkart was born in Covington, KY on August 9, 1937 to Joseph Anthony Burkart and Mildred Meyers Burkart. As a young man, he was an accomplished baseball player and an excellent bowler. While still in high school, he met Jeanne Jenner at an outdoor dance at Corpus Christi Church. They were married on December 27, 1958 at Corpus Christi Church in Newport, KY. Ever the loving husband, re routinely wrote Jeanne letters and notes expression how lucky he felt he was to have found her.
He attended the University of Cincinnati, where he excelled at mathematics. He graduated with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. After finishing college, he was drafted and joined the US Army stationed at Fort Belvoir, VA. After a few years of service, he returned to Cincinnati to work for the newly formed, USEPA, attended the very first Earth Day and began a 30-year career researching and engineering solutions for air, water and ground pollution.
He was a devoted father to his three children. He was a dedicated coach to his children and many others on local sports teams including baseball, tennis and soccer (which he himself never played). He loved his faith Catholicism, and for many years led formation classes coaching and bringing new adults into the church. For many years, he drove with close friends to South Bend, IN to watch Notre Dame football games. He was well known for his Dad jokes, and his friends once presented him with a book of his own jokes as a joke.
Upon retirement, he enjoyed traveling with friends and family, especially to the beach, and visiting with his grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Mass of Christian Burial will be said in celebration of his life St. Thomas More Church, 800 Ohio Pike, Withamsville on Tuesday, May 11, 2021 at 10:30 AM.
He will be laid to rest at St. Stephen Cemetery in Fort Thomas, KY.
In lieu of flowers, the family prefers donations be made in Joes name to:
Comboni Missionaries: 1318 Nagel Rd, Cincinnati, OH 45255
Saint Thomas More Parish: 800 Ohio Pike, Cincinnati, OH 45245
Society of Saint Vincent DePaul: 1125 Bank St, Cincinnati, OH 45214
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