Mark Wayne Burkett

Our Dad, Mark Wayne Burkett, unexpectedly left this world for eternal sunshine in the early morning hours of January 13 th , 2024. We will love you and miss you forever, Dad. Born in Sterling, Illinois to James and Katherine Burkett, he grew up being cared for by his aunts, uncles, cousins, and siblings. After high school, he enlisted in the United States Navy and honorably served our country on active duty during the Vietnam wartime era on the USS New Orleans (LPH-11). During his time on the USS New Orleans, he assisted in the spacecraft recovery of Skylab 3, Skylab 4, and the Apollo-Soyuz joint U.S. Soviet space mission. Receiving a National Defense Service Medal, he was honorably discharged from active duty and transferred to the Naval Reserves until the mid-80’s. Dad’s favorite pastimes included spending time with his grandkids, fishing, reading, target shooting, listening to rock & roll, and stamp collecting. Just like his devotion to his family, humor came naturally to Dad. All who knew him remember him fondly for his quick wit and jokes. More affectionately known by his daughters and grandchildren as JGrampa, Markle Sparkle Farkle, DJ Mixmaster Mark, or Daddio - he held many titles in his 69 years of life, none more cherished than that of father and especially Grandpa. He cherished every minute with his grandkids, cracking corny jokes to make them laugh, doing anything in his power to support them in their passions for guitar, drums, art, and dance, and play-fighting for smooches with his youngest. Mark would have “given the shirt off his back” to his loved ones at any time, a saying we’ve used to describe our father for decades, and one that he has never faltered from. Nothing in this world was more important to Mark than his children and grandchildren. He would have done anything or given anything he had to make sure his family was taken care of, and often did just that. Heartbreakingly survived by daughters Jenny (Chris) Burkett of Savage, MN, Heather (Travis) Burkett, and Dana Burkett of Omaha, NE; Grandchildren Lukas Burkett , Emmett Burkett, Noah Cain, Gabrielle Lange, Brooke Lange, Samuel Lange, Allison Lange, Carolyn Schafer and Bennett Schafer; and best friend Bill Richardson of Sioux City, IA. We will spend our lives missing the greatest father, grandfather, and friend.

Mark Wayne Burkett

May 5, 1954 - January 13, 2024