Jeffrey Clyde Burkart

Jeffrey Clyde Francis Burkart, 68, of Griswold, CT, went home to the Lord on September 7, 2021 after fighting COVID.  He was a loving husband to Lorna Latham Burkart and dedicated father to Joshua and Sarah Burkart.

Jeff was born on February 15, 1953 to Clyde & Helen Burkart in Groton, CT. Upon graduation from NFA, he joined the Navy.  In 1980, Jeff and Lorna met on a blind date and were married one year later.  The one thing they had in common was they both had a dream of building a log home.  Together they designed, built and completed their dream home in 1985.

After leaving the navy, Jeff worked at Dow Chemical for 20 years. In 1998, he left Dow to become his wife’s business partner in financial services for the past 31 years.

More recently, Jeff also helped out with the Voluntown Housing Authority as a handyman and really enjoyed helping.  He and his family served in many ways at Voluntown Baptist Church and was very involved with Griswold Friends of Music, Griswold Drama, ECPAA and Operation Christmas Child.

Jeff loved his family with his whole heart, had deep relationships with his friends and loved to help people in anyway he could.  He loved nature, especially fishing, trips to the mountains, vacations on the lake, spontaneous day trips, and most of all the weekly ride through the forest after church.  Jeff was known for his beautiful smile, warm hugs, sense of humor and loving nature, but especially for his love of God, Jesus and his family.

Jeffrey was predeceased by his father (Clyde) and mother (Helen), and his mother-in-law, Grace Latham, whom he considered a second mom.  “JB” will be greatly missed by his wife Lorna Latham Burkart, son Joshua, daughter Sarah (and future son-in-law Cole Matylewicz), brother James (and Kathy Burkart), and sisters Sandra (and Bruce Shewbrooks), Sharon (and Robert Lenkiewicz), Sherri Burkart, Suzanne DePietro, and Stephanie (and Steve Cahoon), and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and very close friends and colleagues.

Calling hours will be held at Gagne & Piechowski Funeral Home at 490 Voluntown Road, Griswold, CT on September 14th from 5pm-7pm.  A Celebration of Jeffrey’s Life will be held at Voluntown Baptist Church at 52 Main Street, Voluntown, CT on September 15th at 10am, followed by a short reception and then the funeral.  In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to support Jeff’s favorite mission with Operation Christmas Child.  Checks can be made out to Voluntown Baptist Church with “OCC” on the memo line.

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