Joan Burkhardt

Joan Davison Burkhardt, 83, of Springfield, passed away on Sunday Jauuary 13, 2013 at Concordia Village. She was born to Donald M. and Thelma R. Davison in Bloomington, Illinois, on November 10, 1929. She attended Springfield High School for two years and graduated from Jacksonville High School in 1947.

Mrs. Davison worked as an Executive Secretary at Sangamo Electric Co. for 15 years. Joan moved to Sarasota, Florida in 1968 where she and her husband Charles owned and operated a fire and safety equipment business for ten years. She was an official scorer for NASCAR and Comptroller of DeSoto Speedway for four years.

Joan returned to Springfield in 1989 where she worked for the State of Illinois for 8 ½ years before retirement. She was a volunteer at Memorial Hospital, a member of Beta Sigma Phi sorority having served as President of the Sarasota, Florida Chapter, a member of First United Methodist Church and UMW Leah Circle. She was also a member of several bridge clubs and bridge marathons. Joan loved spending time with her family, friends, and her dog Taco.

She was preceded in death by her daughter Christina Fenner in 1995. She is survived by her son-in-law Ralph (Carol) Loewenstein of Springfield, one granddaughter, Kathrine M. Loewenstein of Springfield, one brother Robert W. (Barbara) Davison of North Agusta, S.C., one niece Carrie Santiago of Raleigh, N.C., one nephew Carl W. Davison of Jacksonville, FL., and one great niece Nicole Davison of Jacksonville, FL.

The family would like to give a special thanks to Mr. Ralph Loewenstein for his love and care of Joan during the many years of her declining health.

A graveside service will be held at 1:00pm on Thursday January 17, 2013 at Oak Ridge Cemetery with Jonathan Vierkant officiating. Please visit the online “Life Remembered Story” at www.bischfuneralhomewest.com.