Jane Burkhart

Jane (Hoff) Burkhart (97)

Born Jane Esther Louise Hoff on March 11, 1914, to Melvin and Luella (Nonstad) Hoff in LaCrosse, Wisconsin, Jane (Hoff) Burkhart died of natural causes May 14, 2011, in Pullman, Washington at Pullman Regional Hospital.
Jane graduated from LaCrosse Central High School in 1931 and she then attended Wisconsin State University's LaCrosse State Teacher's College for two years prior to entering the St. Francis Hospital School of Nursing, also in LaCrosse, Wisconsin. After receiving her R.N. degree, she joined the regular U.S. Army Nurse Corps, where she served at U.S. Army station hospitals in the U.S. Jane was commissioned Second Lieutenant April 1, 1938, promoted to First Lieutenant and Chief Nurse, then to Captain. On August 15, 1945, Captain Jane Hoff and Captain Jean M. Burkhart, a physician in the U.S. Army Medical Corps, were married at Lockbourne Army Air Base, Columbus, Ohio. In 1946, the couple settled in Olympia, Washington, where Dr. J.M. Burkhart established his medical practice. In 1954, Jane was one of the organizers of the Olympia Rose Society, and she became the last surviving founding member. She also belonged to the Olympia Medical Auxiliary, the Children's Orthopedic Hospital Guild, was a member of the P.E.O. Sisterhood, and a fifty-year member of Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in Olympia. After her husband retired from his medical practice in 1983, the couple spent their time focused on travel and cruises-winters from their Palm Desert, California, home and summers from their cottage on Summit Lake outside Olympia. Following her husbands death in 2002, Jane moved to Bishop Place Senior Living in Pullman, Washington.
She is survived by her three children, Marjorie Struck-meyer (and husband, Ken) of Pullman, Washington; Thomas Burkhart (and wife, Jean) of Centennial, Colorado; and Christine Burkhart, of Spanaway, Washington.
Jane is also survived by two Colorado grandchildren, Kate Burkhart and John Burkhart, who now lives in Brooklyn, New York; and by other extended family members. She was preceded in death by her husband; and her Colorado grandson, Stephen Burkhart. Private services have been held. In response to requests regarding memorial donations in Jane's name, the family suggests gifts can be made in Jane's name to Providence St. Peter Hospital Foundation at 413 Lilly Road N.E., Olympia, WA 98506 or to your favorite charity. Kimball Funeral Home of Pullman, WA is caring for the family. Online condolences may be sent to www.kimballfh.com