Jo Anne Burkhard

JoAnne Burkhard passed peacefully from this life in her sleep on the morning of Thursday, August 24^th, 2023. She had been recovering well at home from open heart surgery performed on August 3^rd since her release from St. Vincent/Ascension Heart Hospital on August 11.

JoAnne’s creativity, compassion for others, and love for LIFE were expressed in every aspect of her life. She was an artist for all of her life. In 2019, she moved her painting from her homes studio to the Stutz Building in Indianapolis. Her paintings were shown in many juried shows in Indiana galleries and she won many awards.  Commitment to family was the top priority for JoAnne. She raised 5 daughters and was a great Mom. And she was a fun and creative grandma for her 7 grandchildren. JoAnne was a constant companion and best friend to her surviving husband, David for 34 years (m. Sept. 17, 1988). After completing her MSW from the IU School of Social work and becoming licensed as an LCSW, she joined David in private practice and  in 2005, formed Burkhard Counseling,  where psychotherapy services were offered by both of them. JoAnne and David loved travelling and encountering Nature in the outdoors – Giant Redwoods at Muir Woods and Humboldt  Redwood preserve, the Big Sur coastline, Acadia National Park in Bar Harbor, Maine, numerous trips to North Carolina near Asheville and Mt. Pisgah, several visits to Sedona, AZ, the Smokey Mountains, numerous spots along the Gulf Coast of Florida, Niagara Falls, and much more. JoAnne was a gardener and loved to witness butterflies, hummingbirds and hummingbird moths, squirrels,  and all kinds of flowering plants in the gardens in her front and back yard. She was not a religious person, but was a spiritual person who was inspired by the Wonders of Creation. Many of her paintings reflect a young child that lived within her. She drove a red Mini Cooper with white stripes, top and mirrors.

JoAnne is survived by her older siblings Marilyn Hess, Kathleen Riley, and Mike Rogers,  her husband, David J. Burkhard,  and daughters Molly Keshena, Elizabeth Keshena, Kelly Guinan (from her deceased first husband Gary Keshena),and Annie Burkhard and Katie Burkhard. Her grandchildren are Matthew Profit (Molly), Samuel, Nathan and Francis Gillihan (Elizabeth), and Isabel, Max, and Abby Guinan (Kelly).

Visitation will be held from 1-3p.m. on Sunday, August 27 at JoAnne’s home at 7110 S. East Street with a Celebration of JoAnne’s life service at 3p.m. All are welcome to join family and close friends with a meal following the service.  Parking is available across the street at St. John’s United Church of Christ.

Services entrusted to O'Riley Branson Funeral Service and Crematory, 6107 S. East Street, Indianapolis, Indiana 46227.

Please visit www.OrileyBranson.com to share a favorite memory or to sign the online guest registry.