Traverse City – Barbara Jean Burkholder, 74, of Traverse City passed away, Friday, June 1, 2018 at her home surrounded by her loving family.

Barbara was born August 16, 1943 to Dominic and Mary (Surd) Valesano in Highland Park, MI. After graduating from Highland Park High School in 1961, she attended the Highland Park School of Nursing, received her certification in 1964, and began her nursing career in public health nursing in Detroit. Barbara met her "best friend and partner", Jim Burkholder, when she was working as a visiting nurse at the State Hospital in Traverse City, MI. She and Jim were married on October 16, 1965 at St. Benedict's Church in Highland Park. They began their lives together and started their family in St. Clair Shores, MI. Barbara and Jim and their three young children moved to Traverse City in 1973 when they took over Burkholder Construction, the family business. At the beginning, the building business ran out of an office in her home, so Barbara added the roles of receptionist, bookkeeper and general support, to her duties as a mother for over 27 years.
Their fourth child completed the family shortly after that move in 1974.

Barbara's nursing career was short-lived, as the focus in her life was being a wife, mother and later, a Nana, to her four children and 12 grandchildren. Barbara was a care-giver and loved nothing more than to be surrounded by her family and friends. She was an amazing mother and Nana and missed very few of her children and grandchildren's' activities and special events through the years. Her calendar was actually bigger and more complicated than anyone else's in the family, as Nana constantly kept track of all the events she was going to attend.

As the busy-ness of Barbara's life with her four young children and a building business running out of her home increased, Barbara found balance and some time for herself in a daily exercise routine which began as she went for early morning runs with Jim along the railroad tracks behind their home, and in later years progressed to strength-training and spin class routines at exercise facilities both in Traverse City and Vero Beach, Florida where she and Jim spent time in the winter months. She loved going to the gym and her fellow gym mates had become an extended family both in Traverse City and Florida.

Barbara was the consummate hostess and event planner. She loved to cook and bake for her family and friends, and she loved to plan and host parties for any type of occasion, big or small. Nana's special chocolate-chunk cookies, blueberry bran muffins, her amazing homemade spaghetti sauce and her delicious cheesy potatoes will be missed most of all!!

In addition to her love for her family and friends, Barbara will be remembered for her steadfast faith. She was a dedicated "prayer-warrior" who kept a running list of people and intentions that she prayed for daily. Saying the rosary was a part of her daily exercise routine as her first prayers of the day were offered as she ran, walked or was on her spin bike! Barbara's church family was very important to her and for many years she was active in serving St. Francis Parish on the funeral luncheon committee, as a regular chapel volunteer, food pantry volunteer and as a volunteer for many special church festivals and events.

She was preceded in death by her parents Dominic and Mary (Surd) Valesano.

She is survived by her husband Jim Burkholder of Traverse City; daughters Lisa (Chris) Hathaway of Traverse City and Shannon (Charles) Rennie of Traverse City; sons Marc (Kendra) Burkholder of Traverse City and Shawn (Melanie) Burkholder of Carlsbad, CA; brothers Ron (Marilyn) Valesano and Jim (Barbara) Valesano; grand children Dominic, Spencer, Abby and Garrett Hathaway; Mackenna, Koen and Kaelen Burkholder; Cache and Cheney Burkholder and Owen, Evan and Arianna Rennie.

The family will greet friends on Monday, June 4, 2018 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home, with a rosary at 7 p.m. A funeral mass will be held on Tuesday, June 5, 2018 at 11 a.m. at St. Francis of Assisi Church, with visitation beginning at 10 a.m. Father Ken Stachnik will officiate.

Those wishing an expression of sympathy are encouraged to direct contributions to the Grand Traverse Area Catholic Schools, 123 East Eleventh Street, Traverse City, MI 49684.