Steven A. Burkle went home to be with Jesus on Oct. 4, 2026.
He and his twin sister, Stella (Miles) Burkle were born in Detroit, Michigan on July 6, 1942. He was the son of the late Fredrick E. Burkle and Mary (Boesch) Burkle-Kovach, and Frances J. (Boonstra) Burkle.
The family moved to Linden in 1951. Steve attended Linden High School where he excelled at baseball and was named Montgomery County small school baseball player of the year in the fall of 1959. He graduated in 1960 and that summer signed a professional baseball contract with the Chicago White Sox to play with Clinton, Iowa in the Midwest League. Steve was involved in an automobile accident in the fall of 1960 that ended his baseball career.
Steve married Linda K. (Thayer) Burkle on Sept. 28, 1962, in New Richmond.
Steve attended Anderson University before being hired by Tipmont REMC in June of 1962 where he became a Journeyman Lineman, Foreman, and in December of 1983 served as Line Superintendent until his retirement in January 2005 after 43 years of service. He was past president of the Indiana Statewide REMC Superintendent and Engineers Section, board member of Wabash Valley Alliance, trustee of the Linden-Carnegie Public Library, and board member of Calvary Chapel Lafayette where he attended faithfully.
In his retired life, he enjoyed working in his greenhouse, gardening, fishing, especially Sugar Creek and the Wabash River, golfing, and euchre at the Linden-Carnegie Public Library.
Steve leaves behind wife Linda; brother Ron Kovach (Peggy) of Lafayette; sisters, Stella Miles of Tucson, Arizona, Peggy Kovach of Carmel, Barbara Ringo of Indianapolis and Ruth Darling (Joe) of Dahlonega, Georgia; children, Andrea R. Goodwin (Jason) of Lafayette, Eric S. Burkle (Michelle) of New Castle and Vincent C. Burkle (Michele) of Fort Wayne; seven grandchildren, Jordan and Allison Lough, Jacob Goodwin and Benjamin, Matthew, Branden and Madelyn Burkle; and three great-grandchildren, Mason and Brody Cornell and Grady Lough.
He was preceded in death by grandson Drew Burkle (Eric and Michelle).
A celebration of life will be held 2-4 p.m. Oct. 17 at Calvary Chapel Lafayette, 2111 State St., Lafayette.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Calvary Chapel Lafayette.
Share memories and condolences online at www.simplicity-funeralcare.com.
