Kay Nanfelt Burklin

Kay Burklin (née Nanfelt), 63, devoted wife of Reverend Heiko Burklin, went to be with her Lord and Savior on Wednesday, July 26, 2023. She passed away peacefully in her home in Taylors, South Carolina.
She was born in Middleboro, Massachusetts as the middle child and only daughter of Kenneth and Adele Nanfelt.
Kay earned her Bachelor of Arts from Wheaton College (IL) in 1982, a Master of Arts from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in 1986, and a Doctorate of Ministry and Global Leadership from Alliance Theological Seminary in 2017.
She met her husband Heiko in Boston studying at Gordon-Conwell, where their friendship blossomed and they felt called to full-time ministry. They were married in Middleboro, MA., on May 11, 1985.
They started their family in Lake Wales, Florida, where Heiko had taken up a pastoral position at the First Presbyterian Church (ARP).
Kay's heart for the Lord has been manifest throughout her life, including as a pastor's wife in Lake Wales, as a social worker for a relief agency in the Philippines, and as a member of a church-planting team in former East Berlin. In later years, she served as Director of Mercy Ministry with Mission to the World (MTW), a role with a global remit that involved assignments in Europe, Latin America, Africa, and Southeast Asia.
A guiding thread through her life was her love and care for refugee communities around the world. Her faithful service and love for Christ has spurred on countless others to deepen their faith and to help those most in need.
She was a gifted pianist, flutist, painter, decorator, and adored spending time with her family, friends, and grandchildren. She will be remembered by those who knew her as a vivacious, creative, and adventurous soul who loved to laugh and was exceedingly generous with her time and talents.
In May 2022, Kay was diagnosed with Bulbar ALS, an aggressive disease that she nevertheless battled to the end with courage, grace, and good humor.
In addition to her husband of 38 years, left to cherish her memory are her three children, Stephan and his wife Abigail, Yannick and his wife Julia, Micah and his wife Laura; as well as three grandchildren, Jasper and Atticus Candeletta-Burklin and Chloe Abraira-Burklin.
She is survived by her brothers Lee (married to Maureen) and Scott Nanfelt (married to Grit) as well as many nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, August 5, 2023, at 2:00 p.m. at Greenville ARP Church in Greenville, S.C. followed by visitation from 3:00 p.m. until 4:30 p.m. An additional memorial service will be held Sunday, August 6, 2023, at 2:00 p.m. at Neely's Creek ARP Church in Rock Hill, S.C., followed by visitation from 3:00 p.m. until 4:30 p.m. A private burial will be held for the immediate family only.
Honorary pallbearers for the services will be Kay's much loved nieces and nephews, as well as grand-nieces and grand-nephews, Nathan and Rachel Nanfelt and their sons Simon, Martin and Nyles, Justin and Mary Nanfelt and their children Vera, Kirsa and Tate, Zachary and Sungbin Nanfelt and their daughters Yuri and Gia, Chelsea and Keenan Rowe, Kai Nanfelt, Svenja Nanfelt, Kameron and Brittany Knox, Mark and Brianna Seifert and their children Adelaide and Lachlan, Stephanie Burklin, Katherine and Jacob Holt and their son Rowan, Ashley Ann Burklin, Jerusha Pervenecki, Tilon and Caitie Pervenecki and their son Ezekiel.
Family and Friends who are unable to attend the service at Greenville ARP Church can view the live stream by visiting www.greenvillearp.com
In lieu of flowers, Kay requested that donations be made to the following refugee related ministries and missionaries, Phillip and Joy Kirkland at https://www.mtw.org/missionaries/details/kirkland-joy-and-philip ; P & S at https://www.mtw.org/unlisted; World Witness at https://worldwitness.org/project/bridge_europe_b_e or Global Health Network at https://globalhopenetwork.org/ with gifts designated to refugee work under the Disaster Response section of their site.
Friends are encouraged to share their favorite memories of Kay with the family by clicking on the button labeled "Leave A Message, Share A Memory" below.