Barbara Burkhard

Barbara Jean Hindley Burkhard, aka Ma’am, died on December 6, 2017 in Grand Junction, CO due to complications from COPD.

Barbie was born on February 19, 1947 in Grand Junction to Bill and Margaret Hindley.  She graduated from Grand Junction High School in 1965, and Mesa College with a degree in Nursing.  She married Skip Gee and they had 2 children, Kenny and Kimberly.  On March 14, 1981,Barbie married the love of her life, Michael Burkhard.  Mike adopted Kenny and Kimberly on March 28, 1982.

Barbie influenced and mentored many nurses in her 40 years at Community Hospital in Grand Junction.  In 2004, Barbie was the proud recipient of the prestigious Nightingale award for Nursing.  Mike and Barbie moved to Grand Lake, CO in 1996, where they enjoyed the mountains, wildlife, and their purple pontoon boat on Lake Granby.  In 2001, they returned to Grand Junction.

Barbie was not only mom to her 2 children, but also to their many friends and countless others, where she quickly became known as Ma’am.  The door at the Burkhard home was always open to whoever needed a friendly face.  The Burkhard home was always the place to be.  Whether it was Friday Afternoon Table Tennis (FATT) Club, Roller skating club, 4th of July parties and New Year’s Eve parties.  The annual Burkhard Pig Roast was an event everyone looked forward to.  Barbie’s love of Bassett hounds, Broncos, NASCAR, anything purple and of course her family, is what we all remember most about her.

Barbie is survived by her husband Mike; her son and daughter-in-law, Kenny and Misti Burkhard; her daughter and son-in-law, Kimberly and Greg Fallis, brothers and sisters in laws, and many nieces and nephews.  Barbie is also survived by the many friends that became family.  She is preceded in death by her parents Margaret and Bill Hindley, Aunt Beth and Uncle Jim, and Uncle Billy.

A Life Celebration for Barbie will be held Saturday December 9, 2017 at 1 pm at Canyon View Vineyard Church Chapel, 736 24 ½ Road, Grand Junction, CO.  We encourage everyone to sport their Bronco or purple attire. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in memory of Barbie Burkhard to the Colorado Mesa University Foundation for Nursing Scholarships, 1450 N. 12th St., Grand Junction, CO  81501 or to Roice Hurst Humane Society in Grand Junction.