Col. Thomas Burkhalter

  Col. Thomas H. Burkhalter, US Army (Ret.) Thomas H. Burkhalter, COL. US Army (Ret), passed away unexpectedly on Thursday morning, December 23,, 2010 at Columbia St. Mary’s Hospital in Mequon.  He was 80 years old.  Tom was born in Iron Mountain, MI on January 13, 1930, son of Herbert and Mildred Thomas Burkhalter.  He grew up in Madison, WI and attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison graduating with a BS in Psychology.  He was commissioned as a 2nd Lt. in the US Army on June 22, 1952.  Colonel Burkhalter served his country for over 20 years.  His postings included many domestic posts and also overseas in Korea, Vietnam, and Germany.  He completed a Masters Degree in Industrial Psychology (Laboratory of Aviation Psychology) at Ohio State.  His military decorations include Combat Infantry Badge, Legion of Merit (3 OLC), Bronze Star, Purple Heart, Meritorious Service Medal (2 OLC) Joint Services Commendation Medal, and Army Commendation Medal (3 OLC).  After retiring from the US Army, Tom worked as Operations Manager for Curley-Bates Company, a wholesale sporting goods company in Burlingame, CA.  He then went on ...[more]

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work as Director of Supply Operations for Hawthorne Aviation Company of Charleston, SC at their Dugway Proving Grounds in Utah.  Tom returned to Wisconsin to work as the Veterans Service Officer of Richland County, and then Ozaukee County where he remained until his retirement in 1997. After his retirement, he volunteered his time for the Milwaukee County Veterans Service Office for several years. Col. Burkhalter’s organizational affiliations include the American Legion Van Ells-Schanen Post 82, Post 5373 Veterans of Foreign Wars, Disabled American Veterans, Korean War Veterans of America, Vietnam Veterans of America, Military Order of the Purple Heart, the 40 et 8, 5th RCT Association, Outpost “Harry” Survivors Association, County Veterans Service Officers Association of Wisconsin, the Manitowoc Kiwanis Club, the American Psychological Society, the Masons, and The Scottish Rite.   Tom was a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church Lakefield in Grafton.  His hobbies included photography, reading, traveling and he loved to spend time with his family.  He is survived by his wife Diane (nee Waedekin) of Port Washington, 6 children; Elizabeth (Grant) Watson of Radford, VA, Christy (Joe) Wallock of West Bend, WI, Kurt (Lindsey) Burkhalter of Springfield, VA, Walter (Linda) Burkhalter of Burnett, WI, DJ Burkhalter of Bellevue, WA  and Kim Burkhalter of Janesville, WI.  He is further survived by 13 grandchildren, two brothers Robert Burkhalter of Cazenovia, WI and John (Harriette) Burkhalter of Eden Valley MN, nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends.  He is preceded in death by his parents and one sister-in-law Betty Burkhalter.  Funeral services will take place on Wednesday, December 29th at 7 PM at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Grafton with Pastor James O’Reilly-Christenson officiating.  He will be buried with full military honors at Southern Wisconsin Memorial Cemetery in Union Grove, WI.  Visitation will be held on Wednesday, December 29th from 3-6 PM at the Eernisse Funeral Home, 1600 W. Grand Ave. in Port Washington.   A combined veteran organization walk-through to honor Col. Burkhalter will take place at the funeral home on Wednesday at 5:30 PM.  Online condolences may be left at www.eernissefuneralhome.com  
Service:

Funeral services will take place on Wednesday, December 29 at 7PM at St. John's Lutheran Church in Grafton. 

Cemetery:

Southern Wisconsin Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Union Grove