John William Burkhardt

Jack (John) W. Burkhardt of Scituate passed away March 25, 2021, at the age of 92. He was the devoted husband of 61 years to Jean J. (Johnston) Burkhardt, who pre-deceased Jack in 2013. Jack was born and raised in Brookline, Massachusetts where he graduated from Brookline High School. After high school, he had several jobs in the Boston area, including pipe manufacturing and furniture delivery. Jack joined the Marine Corps in 1950, resolved to rescue his brother Bob who was missing in action in Korea. He served for two years stateside, his brother returned home safely and they both remained Marines at heart to the end of their days. In 1951, he married his beloved Jeanie of Waterville, Maine. Two years later while living in Brookline, they had their first son, and soon after their second son was born, they moved to Jamaica Plain where they would remain until 1961. By this time, they had added two daughters, and with four children, they decided to leave the city for a seaside suburb. They chose Scituate, where they would add the last two of their six children and happily remain for 52 years. Jack started Burkhardt Brothers Moving and Storage in 1962 with his beloved brother Robert P. Burkhardt. Once Jack’s kids moved on, Jack and his darling Jean traveled repeatedly to Ireland and Italy, where they were fortunate to have dear friends to both visit and travel with. Jack was a prolific reader, autodidact, sailor (Jack’s lifetime love of sailing culminated with his sea sprite daysailer “MAINE CHANCE”), woodcarver, music lover, Celtics fanatic and consumer of Jeanie's culinary wonders. He was the loving father of John and his wife JoAnn of Baltimore, MD, James and his wife Laurie of Canton, Jane Noonan and her husband James of Scituate, Julie Nantais of Plympton, Jean Jennings and her husband Archer of Coventry, CT, and Joseph of Scituate; brother of the late Robert P. Burkhardt, the late Nancy Burchill and the late Natalie Burkhardt; proud grandfather of 15 amazing young adults. Jack’s family would like to express their heartfelt thanks to all the miracle workers at The Village of Duxbury Assisted Living facility for the magnificent job they did in caring for our father over the past three years, and we are especially grateful for the care and attention provided during the pandemic year. We also want to recognize the amazingly effective and comforting nursing care provided by the staff from Cranberry Hospice over the last few weeks of Jack’s life. Friends and family will be invited to attend a memorial celebration when the darned virus is under control. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Jack’s memory to the charity dearest to your heart.