Gerald Dean Burghardt

Gerald Dean Burghardt was born July 28, 1937, at Homestead, east of Southard, to Hugo and Esther Burghardt, and passed away Wednesday, July 13, 2022, at the age of 84.

Gerald was a member of the Hitchcock community for most of his life, where he was a farmer and rancher; he owned and operated their dairy farm for 50 years. He attended Liberty School for his first-grade year, and then attended Hitchcock grade school and high school, where he graduated in 1956. He was married at Canton Christian Church, in Canton, Oklahoma, to Arlene Essex, on July 6, 1963, and they enjoyed 59 years together. Gerald was a member of the Northwest Oklahoma Revival Center, as well as being on several church boards through the years, and helped build a new Assembly of God church. He was a member of the Farm Bureau Board for over 50 years and was a member of Sooner Coop and Ames Farmer Coop. In 1999, he and his family were named Farm Family of the Year and, in 2008, was inducted into the Blaine County Hall of Fame. He was an Okeene Whea-Esta Wheat King and received and FFA Jr. Master Farmer Award. He raised Angus and Holstein cattle and grows wheat, Bermuda and Plains Bluestem.

He is preceded in death by his parents and one brother, JayLee Burghardt.

He is survived by his wife, Arlene, of the home in Hitchcock, OK. One son, Darrel Burghardt, and wife Elizabeth of Hitchcock, OK. One daughter, Cindy Howerton and husband Travis, of Longdale, OK. One sister, Geneva Martens of Enid, OK. Six grandchildren, Tiffany Robinson, Kristi Bright and husband Jeff, Nicole Robinson, Adam Robinson and wife Brittany, Charity Robinson, and Kelsi Burghardt; and three great-grandchildren, Jaydon, Audrey, and Trigger Robinson.

Memorial services for Gerald will be held Tuesday, July 19, 2022, at 9:00 a.m. at Peaceful Cemetery in Hitchcock, OK with Wilkinson Mortuary in charge of arrangements.

Memorial contributions in Gerald’s memory may be made to St. Jude’s Children Research Center.