Rodger Wesley Burkart

Rodger Wesley Burkart, of Sonoma, passed away peacefully at home on May 23, 2017, surrounded by his loving family. He is survived by his wife of 40 years, Lynn Burkart, and two daughters, Tammy Carmassi (Steve) of El Dorado Hills and Jennifer Trapani (Kevin) of Chapel Hill, NC. He was pre-deceased by his daughter Kelly Perkins (Ken) of Lake Charles, LA, and his parents, Peg and Wesley Burkart.

Rodger was born in St. Joseph, MO, on January 9, 1938. His father, Wesley, worked for Armour Meat Company and the family moved frequently. He attended schools in Columbus, OH, Indianapolis, IN, and Sioux City, IA. He went on to the University of South Dakota in Vermillion, where he received his BS in Education, and was a proud member of Phi Delta Theta fraternity. He left the education field to pursue a career in the insurance industry with G.A.B. He worked as a property claims adjuster doing storm duty after large hurricanes like Betsy in Florida and Camille in New Orleans, later going on to work for the Travelers Insurance Company in southern California. In 1973 he joined Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company and was transferred to their Home Office in San Francisco, where he earned the title of AVP Property Claims.

It was at FFIC that he met and married his love, Lynn McQuillan, in 1976. Lynn and Rodger moved to Petaluma in 1980, and became active in their church community, making many friends that they cherish still today. Rodger loved to read, and was never without a book. His interest in ancient history led Lynn and Rodger to travel the world, including exotic places like the Greek Islands, Italy, Russia, Ireland and the Nile River.

He quietly lived his Catholic faith as a 35-year member of Knights of Columbus in Petaluma, and was a charter member of the Ancient Order of Hibernians – Sonoma division. He was a Cursillo team worker, a religious education teacher for RCIA and CCD, as well as a mentor in the Stand By Me program. He was a driver for FISH, taking people to their chemotherapy treatments, and a member of the St. Leo’s men’s club, and SIRS in Sonoma. His ideals of service to family, his faith and his friends will be his legacy. He believed that education was the greatest gift we could share.

He will be greatly missed by his grandchildren, Bradley Burkart (Adrienne) and Hunter Perkins, Nicole Brians Huffman (Phil) and Stephanie (Chris) Brians, Caitlin Trapani Walsh (Matt), and twins Mallory and Anthony Trapani; as well as great-grandchildren Andrew, Matthew, Kyle and Ethan Huffman, and Carter Allen.

Visitation will be on Friday, May 26, at Duggan’s Mission Chapel funeral home from 4-7 p.m., with a Rosary at 7 p.m. A Memorial Mass will be said at St. Francis Solano Church on Friday, June 16, at 11 a.m. Friends can leave messages and condolences on DuggansMissionChapel.com website. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to St. Francis Solano School, 342 West Napa Street, Sonoma, CA 95476, indicating the RW Burkart Scholarship Fund. 

 Service Information