Regis Gerald Burdiek, 76, Berryton, died Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2004, at St. Francis Hospital in Topeka. Mr. Burdiek was a farmer and a dairyman. He was born Feb. 7, 1928, in Kelly, the son of Frank A. and Anna Meyer Burdiek. He attended St. Bede's Grade School in Kelly. He married Lucille Ann Becker on Dec. 28, 1950, in Seneca. She died July 26, 1987. They lived in the Kelly community until 1954, when they moved to a farm northeast of Wetmore. He moved to Topeka in 1988 and worked as a security guard for Allis-Chalmers and Ed Bozarth Chevrolet until he retired in 1996. He married Melba M. Payne on May 24, 1994, in Topeka. She survives in Topeka. He especially enjoyed family gatherings, playing cards and his grandchildren. He was a member of Assumption Catholic Church in Topeka, the Over-55 Club and Knights of Columbus Council No. 4219 in Atchison and the FoUrth Degree. Survivors include four daughters and their spouses, Estelle and Bob Boeger, Susan and Mitch Behymer, of Topeka , and Rose Ann and Rick Hladky and Amy and Ron Hill, of Berryton. Also surviving are three sons and their spouses, Daniel and Marie Burdiek, Mayetta, Edward and Jayme Burdiek, Berryton, and James and Deana Burdiek, Sherwood, Ark. Other survivors include two stepdaughters, Carla Soper, Topeka, and Synda Burton, Fishers, Ind.; five stepgrandchildren; and one stepgreat-granddaughter. Also surviving are two brothers, Leonard, Sabetha, and Edgar, Topeka; three sisters, Imelda Skoch, Sabetha, Bernice Glover, Salina, and Marjorie Steinlage, Corning; and 11 grandchildren. A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Saturday at Church of the Assumption. Interment will follow in Mount Calvary Cemetery in Holton. Mr. Burdiek will lie in state after 2 p.m. Friday at Brennan-Mathena Funeral Home, where a parish rosary will be recited at 7 p.m., followed by a Knights of Columbus, all councils rosary at 7:30 p.m. Memorial contributions are suggested to the American Diabetes Association or to Mount Calvary Cemetery and sent in care of the funeral home, 800 West 6th, Topeka, 66603.
Contributor: Judy McAsey Arnold (47137206) •