Elaine Burkhard

Elaine Burkhard, 65 of Lizton, passed away peacefully July 24, 2025 in the early morning hours, surrounded by family.

Elaine was born December 14, 1959 in Danville, Indiana to Joe and Dianne (Delashmit) Neff. She was raised in North Salem, Indiana where she attended North Salem High School, going on to graduate from Tri-West High School in 1978.

Elaine married Martin Brunes of Lizton, Indiana shortly after graduating high school in June of 1978. She then gave birth to their son, David Martin Brunes on February 22, 1980, and then their daughter, Amanda Elaine Brunes on December 8, 1982.

She became a volunteer firefighter for Lizton Fire Dept, then on to becoming a Paramedic for Aid Ambulance Service for a couple years .

She married Bill Burkhard of Lizton, Indiana in 1988, gaining a step-daughter, Heather Lynn Burkhard and step-son, Jesse Lee Burkhard.

They built their first home, a log cabin, in 1992. They spent their days raising children, traveling the US, and attending NASCAR races and spending time with their many close friends.

Elaine worked a variety of other jobs including waitress/bartender, school nurse for Tri-West High School for 10 years, and eventually on to become an Insurance Agent in 2002 for Porter Insurance/Lamar Lamar Insurance where she retired in 2021. Due to the love she had of photography, she also took on part-time work taking wedding pictures, senior pictures, family and special event pictures, etc. Her favorite of all though was capturing pictures of family, sunsets, old barns, and covered bridges. Her love of nature and being outdoors shined through her photography.

Elaine loved her grandchildren dearly and spent much of her free time doing whatever she could with them. Nana’s babies!!!

Bill and Elaine built their second home, a barndominium, in 2018 where they spent their retired days together until Bill’s passing in 2022, and taking care of her mother, Dianne, until her passing in 2024.

Elaine was also known for her love of rocks and fossils, as she could be found many days alone in her spare time or with her daughter at the creek searching and collecting fossils and beautiful stones that she would bring home and display in her flower and rock gardens. She enjoyed volunteering at Old Fashion Days in North Salem, Old Fashion Christmas, Farmer’s Market and anywhere she was needed. She was a member of the Modern Homemakers Association (Home Ec) for many years as well.

Elaine is preceded in death by her parents, Joe and Dianne Neff, and her beloved husband, Bill Burkhard. She leaves behind her children, David Brunes, Amanda Brunes, Heather Burkhard, and Jesse (Summer) Burkhard; her grandchildren, Cody (Lulu) Coleman, Wylie and Brandt New, Bristol and Rhett Brunes, Savannah Kitchen, Gaige, Christian, and Alexis Burkhard; and an abundant amount of family and friends. Elaine will always be remembered as a huge staple in the community, and will be forever loved and missed by all.

Services will be held at 2 pm, Saturday, August 2, 2025 in Eric MD Bell Funeral Home, where friends are invited to gather with the family from 12 pm until the time of the service.  She will be laid to rest in Fairview Cemetery, North Salem, following the service. 

Memorial gifts are suggested to Fairview Cemetery Association; envelopes will be available at the funeral home. 

All are encouraged to keep the family in your thoughts and prayers as they go through this difficult time of loss.