Burdette King

Burdette King, age 94, of Lancaster, passed away on Thursday, March 13, 2014, at the Lancaster Care Center. He was born Walter Burdette King, on the King family farm in Ellenboro Township on March 21, 1919 the son of Ivan and Lydia (Day) King. Burdette attended Kingsford country schoolhouse. He married the love of his life, Dorothy M. Bailie on May 23, 1942 at the E&R Parsonage in Lancaster. Together they farmed on the King family farm in Ellenboro Township, which was in the King family for over one hundred and twenty years. He was a charter member of the Southwest Regional High School Rodeo and West Grant Saddle Club. Chairman of Ellenboro Township, member of the Busy Badgers 4-H club, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Wisconsin Registered Polled Herefords Association, and Bethlehem E&R Church. Burdette enjoyed calling square dances, playing cards, fishing, turkey hunting, deer hunting and going for a horse ride, but more importantly, he loved keeping up with his family and their activities.

Surviving are his daughters: Sheila (Kermit) Sarver, and Peggy King; four grandchildren: Shane (Michele) Sarver, Kolten (Allison) Sarver, Ivan (Jennie) Wilson and Jasmine Wilson; Thirteen great-grandchildren, a sister in law Lucille Koeller and a brother in law Roger Bailie, and many nieces and nephews.

In addition to his loving wife Dorothy, Burdette was preceded in death by two sister in laws Beatrice (Raymond) Grobstick and Virginia Bailie, and a brother in law Warren Koeller.

Funeral services were held on Tuesday, March 18, 2014 at 10:30 a.m. at the Bethlehem E&R Church in Lancaster, with Rev. Mark Dieter officiating. Burial was in the Hillside Cemetery, Lancaster. Friends called on Monday, March 17, 2014 from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Schwartz Funeral Home in Lancaster, and on Tuesday morning from 9:30 a.m. until time of services at the church. In lieu of plants and flowers, a Burdette King memorial fund has been established.