Kathryn Ann Burkhardt died on Wednesday, November 5, 2025 at Essentia St. Mary's Hospital in Duluth.  She was 70 years old.

Kathryn Ann Myers was born at Lakewood Hospital, Lakewood Ohio on April 29, 1955.   Kathy's family moved from Lakewood to Minneapolis. Minnesota in 1962.  Her early education took her from Longfellow Elementary, to Sanford Junior High, to her high school graduation from Minneapolis South where she graduated with honors. While in school she worked for a number of years at Soderberg Florists as a floral designer.  Kathy went to UMD in Duluth after high school, and attended classes there for a year before returning to Minneapolis to earn enough money to pursue her career passion and attend nursing school.  She took a job at St. Louis Park Florist as a floral designer and, while working there, won ribbons in multiple categories at the Northwest Region Floral Designer Convention in Bloomington, MN.  It was in in 1974 in St. Louis Park that she met Tim Burkhardt, the love of her life, who was the new delivery driver for the florist shop. Their love blossomed and they were married September of 1975 at Incarnation Catholic Church in South Minneapolis.  The newlyweds moved to Bloomington, MN to start their life together. Kathy continued to work part time as a floral designer, after enrolling in the Nursing Program at Metropolitan Community College in Minneapolis. After achieving her degree as a Registered Nurse, Kathy began her career as an RN at Bloomington Maple Manor Nursing Home.  During this time, her husband Tim had taken a new job at Bachman's Floral & Gifts as a green plant technician.  Tim worked full-time and went to school part time at Brown College in Minneapolis to study broadcasting and journalism, achieving his degree in 1977.  A job offer for Tim to work in Pine City at WCMP Radio in 1978 brought the couple to Pine County, where they spent the rest of their lives together.  During their time in Pine County they have lived in Pine City, Sandstone, and finally landing at their current Hinckley home, where they've lived since 1985.

In 1978 Kathy applied for an open RN position at Lakeside Nursing Home in Pine City and, during her interview, was offered an RN position for an affiliated hospital at the Sandstone Area Hospital, which she accepted.  She spend the next 30+ years working in Sandstone.  During that time, Kathy would also work occasional weekends in St. Paul Ramsey's emergency room.  When a notice appeared in the local newspaper that East Central High School was looking to add a Health Careers program to their curriculum in the mid 90's, Kathy applied for and was accepted to create the curriculum, as well as teach the program.  Her dedication to teaching inspired and led a number of her former students to choose careers in healthcare, as evidenced by dozens of her former students that now work as doctors, nurses, nurse aides, and other related positions in healthcare.  In addition, both of the Burkhardt's boys have now been working in the field related to the healthcare field; Peter at Fairview Wyoming as an MRI Technician, and Andy at the University of Michigan in the Center for Research On Learning and Teaching.

Kathy and Tim welcomed their aforementioned two sons, Andrew and Peter, into the world in 1983 and 1985 respectively.  Wanting to make sure that her boys learned additional life skills, Kathy took on the responsibility as Scoutmaster for both the local Hinckley Cub Scout Pack, as well as the Boy Scout Troop.  During this time she created many great learning and growth opportunities for the Scouts in her groups.  Outdoor winter camping, field trips to the Black Hills, weeklong participation in remote Scout camps, as well as multi-day canoe trips down the Namekagon River, were just a few of the memorable experiences that her Scouts were able to share together.

Kathy had a passion for crafting and creating. Her skills and dedication to both quilting and counted cross-stitch were unrivaled. The walls of the Burkhardt's Hinckley home are adorned with literally dozens of hand stitched pictures that change every season.  And… it goes without saying that every couch, bed, wall, table top, end table, window and assorted flat surface in the house is covered in some way with a hand quilted masterpiece.  Friends and relatives alike have been the recipients of multiple pieces of her quilting expertise. Kathy has also donated dozens of quilts and/or quilted items, over the years, to various fundraising cause and events, both locally and regionally.  She was unsurpassed in her love of quilting and the intricacies of the processes needed to create a beautiful project.

Kathy and Tim enjoyed many memory filled years together traveling the Midwest region extensively, plus they took extended trips to Florida, Arizona, and South Carolina, in addition to a unique and once in a lifetime trip to London in 2004.  Kathy also traveled by herself to Italy in 2003 to meet up with her son Andy while he was there as part of his college learning abroad program.

In 2015 Kathy was hospitalized and diagnosed with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) following a lengthy bout with pneumonia.  Over the intervening years her day-to-day life was slowly affected by this condition. On October 27th of 2025 Kathy was hospitalized at Essentia Hospital of Duluth with a severe recurrence of pneumonia.  Her weakened condition from previous COPD exacerbations left her unable to recover from this recent occurrence, and she left this world on the evening of Wednesday, November 5th 2025.

Kathy leaves behind her husband of 50 years Tim Burkhardt, sons Andy and Peter, daughter-in-law Heidi Burkhardt (wife to Andy) and granddaughter Sylvie Maple Burkhardt.  She is also survived by sisters Mary Roth (FL), Nancy Davis (AZ), and Diane Costello (MN). Sisters in law Sandra Ellis (MN), Kristine Burkhardt (MN), and Lizbeth Burkhardt (CO).  Nieces Taryn Merda of (MN), Adrienne Kleinmann (FL), Alicia Costello (MPLS), Hailey Costello (MPLS), and Esa Burkhardt (CO). Nephews Michael Costello (MN), Rion Ellis (MN), Chris Torgerson (MN), Rob Torgerson (MN), Anthony Roth (CA), and Philip Roth (CA).  Kathy was preceded in death by her parents Edward and Patricia Myers and nephew Sean Roth.

The couple celebrated 50 joyous years together at a September 2025 celebration held in Hinckley and attended by many, many friends and relatives.  Kathy will be greatly missed by her family, friends, and the entire community…

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Tuesday, November 18, 2025 at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Hinckley with Fr. Kristoffer McKusky officiating.  Visitation will be from 10-11 A.M at the church.

Arrangements by Methven Funeral and Cremation Services, Tatting Methven Chapel, Hinckley, Minnesota.  www.methvenfuneralhome.com