Paul L. Burkhart

KALISPELL - Paul L. Burkhart, 58, died Sunday, Sept. 12, 2004, at his home in Kalispell of an apparent heart attack.

A memorial celebration of his life was held Sept. 18 at the Herron Park Schoolhouse. Cremation has taken place and his ashes will be spread in the mountains of Montana that he loved so much.

He was well known in the Flathead and Mission valleys and the Flathead Reservtion for his work on the Section 8 housing program for Northwest Montana Human Resources.

Paul was born April 22, 1946, in Bellefonte, Pa., to Paul Jr., and Louise Burkhart. The family moved to Alton, Ill., where Paul graduated from Alton High School in 1964. He attended Purdue University, studying chemical engineering and received a Bachelor of Arts degree in social science from Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville, Ill., in 1972.

Paul served in the Army from 1967-1969, including a tour of duty in Vietnam as a radio operator.

Paul worked as a counselor at the Veteran's Service Center in Alton and was active in other veterans' support groups and organizations. He leaves a large group of friends in Alton, with whom he has maintained and nurtured friendship.

Paul moved to Montana in 1977 and has held various jobs in the Kalispell area, working with Flathead Industries, Semitool, and tending bar at First Avenue West, the Branding Iron and the Kalispell Bar. Most recently he worked as a housing specialist with Northwest Montana Human Resources.

Paul was active with the Sierra Club, Citizens for a Better Flathead, Flathead Blues Society and several veterans' support groups. His hobbies and interests included hiking, camping, pottery, playing guitar and gardening - including the peppers with which he made his famous hot sauce. He enjoyed sailing and vacationing in the Caribbean.

His mother, Louise, preceded Paul in death.

He is survived by his father, Paul Jr. and his wife, Lola, of Alton, Ill.; his brother, Randy of Boston; and sister, Barbara of St. Louis, Mo. Former spouses, Karen Nesbitt of Eureka and Lou Stone of Kalispell also survive him.

Paul was always open and inviting to anyone he met.

He will be missed and remembered by the large number of friends whom he considered his chosen family.

Contributions may be made to the Sierra Club or the Citizens for a Better Flathead.