Obituary - Gerald 'Gary' Burchard

Gerald "Gary" Burchard, 74, passed away of pancreatic cancer Friday December 20, 2019, in Spokane, WA.

Memorial Services will be Friday, Jan. 17, 2020, at 2:15 p.m. at the Washington State Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Spokane.

Gary was born July 14th, 1945, in Havre, Montana, to Charles and Anna Mae (DuBois) Burchard. He was raised in Havre, attended St. Jude's school and graduated from Havre High School.

Gary enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1966. While in the Navy, he fought in the Vietnam War. After being honorably discharged in 1969, Gary married Kathy Koutnik and began working for the BNSF Railway. Gary and Kathy had three children and later divorced. In 2005, Gary retired in Spokane, WA, after 36 years of service with BNSF.

He is survived by his children, daughter, Kelly (Calvin) VonHeeder of Plains, MT; sons, Chad (Tammy) Burchard of Spokane, WA and Travis (Michelle) Burchard of Havre, MT; sister Peggy Cloke of Spokane, WA; sister-in-law, June Burchard of Port Orchard, WA; brother-in-law Warren Gault of Havre, MT; seven grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

Gary was preceded in death by his parents, his brothers, Francis, James and Vern (Carol) Burchard; brother-in-law Ralph Cloke; sisters Alyce (Roy) Matson, Evelyn (Robert) Hoffman, Doreen Gault, Mary Kelley.