Douglas John Burkert
Douglas John Burkert, Sr. was born Oct. 3, 1932 to Lebo and Annette Burkert in Clinton, Iowa.
Doug was raised in Rock Island, Ill. He was the youngest of five children: William (deceased), Betty Jane Mankoski (deceased), Rosemary Johnson, Moline Ill.; and Norma Jean Pierson, Pueblo, Colo. He was a graduate of Rock Island High School and Black Hawk College.
He married Ruth Wisdom from Geneseo, Ill. on June 5, 1955. They were married 59 years. They have two children, Douglas Burkert, Jr., wife Mary and three daughters – Lauren, Elyse and Brianne, all living in Richardson, Texas; and daughter, Nancy Rateliff, husband Jeff and their children, Jacob and daughter Jamie, living in Mustang.
Douglas and his wife Ruth were small business owners, running Annetteās Interiors until 1978, when he closed the business and went to work for John Deere, retiring in 1987. To keep busy, he worked for Project Now Community Action Weatherization Program through 1993, then Rock Island Public schools a short time before retiring and moving to Oklahoma to be closer to his kids and grandkids.
Doug loved bowling, golfing, fishing and watching his grandchildren compete in various sports. He attended Mustang United Methodist Church. He also loved traveling, particularly to family reunions.
A memorial service is planned for Thursday, July 24, at Mustang United Methodist Church, at 3 p.m., with a reception following. In lieu of flowers, we ask donations be made to Mustang United Methodist Church, in care of Skyline Ministries, or United Methodist Women, for their care and support of other families in their time of need.