Patricia Ann “Pat” Burkhart, 84, of Port Orange, Florida, passed away on Thursday, May 5, 2022 at the Halifax Health Care Center in Port Orange, Florida. Pat graduated from Edwardsville High School in 1955 and continued her education in nursing receiving her first nursing degree from Alton Memorial Hospital in Alton, Illinois in 1959. Pat went on to receive her Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing in 1978 from the University of Evansville in Evansville, Indiana and then furthered her education receiving he Master of Science degree in Nursing from Saint Louis University in 1981. Pat was a pioneer in many ways during her storied medical career. For example, Pat assisted in developing the first ever Critical Care Unit and she was one of the first trauma nurses every to fly in medical evacuation helicopters in the region while working at Good Samaritan Hospital in Mount Vernon, Illinois. Further she was on a support team for the second transport ever of a Jarvik-7 artificial heart transplant in Louisville, Kentucky while employed at Humana Hospital. After working her way up to Director of Nursing at several hospitals and as a hospital administrator Pat continued later on in the nursing field teaching nursing at the Daytona State College retiring in 2014. Pat received numerous awards and recommendations during her career including special recognition from the American Heart Association for her diligent efforts in community education. Pat was a lifelong learner yearning to teach other nursing professionals along the way. Pat also was a loving wife, mother, and grandmother to all her family. Pat took great pride in her friends and was known to be quite the comic throughout the years. Even in her last days the nurses commented often how she had them in stitches with her comedic personality. Pat was a member of Our Lady of Hope Catholic Church in Port Orange, Florida.
A visitation will be held Friday, May 20, 2022 from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm at Saint Mary Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Mount Vernon, Illinois. A funeral mass will begin at 12:00 pm with Deacon Mark Kabat officiating. Interment will follow at Mount Vernon Memorial Gardens in Woodlawn, Illinois. Call Hughey Funeral Home at 618-242-3348 or visit hugheyfh.com for further information.
Pat is survived by her husband, Jerald Burkhart of Port Orange, Florida; sons, James Flagg and wife, Lisa of Salem, Illinois, Jeffrey Flagg, Sr. and Lyn Kane of Crystal Lake, Illinois; step daughter, Theresa Demoret of Gothenburg, Nebraska; grandchildren, Garrett Flagg and wife, Malissa of Newbern, Tennessee, Ashleigh Armstrong and husband, Heath of Medina, Tennessee, Allison Olden of Glen Carbon, Illinois, Beth Ann Bishop and husband, Mark of Saint Louis, Missouri, Jeffrey Flagg, Jr. of McHenry, Illinois, Matthew Flagg of Belvedere, Illinois, Nicholas Flagg of Belvedere, Illinois, Rebecca Gronewald and husband, Brian of Gothenburg, Nebraska, Amanda Ristine and husband, Kyam of Gothenburg, Nebraska, Aaron Demoret and Joudan Matthies of Gothenburg, Nebraska, Kyle and wife, Maria Demoret of Centennial, Wyoming, Alyssa Demoret and fiancé, Carson Hamilton of Kearney, Nebraska, Jaimie and spouse, Marc Walton of Edmonds, Washington, Kaitlin Burkhart of Seattle, Washington, Jared Burkhart of Everett, Washington, Kelly Burkhart of Edmonds, Washington; and twenty-three great-grandchildren.
Pat was born at home on July 4, 1937 in Edwardsville, Illinois to Nelson and Mary Alice (Closterman) Senn. In addition to her parents, Pat is preceded in death by her son, Martin Nelson Flagg; step daughters, Deborah Morrell and Diane Burkhart; step son, Joseph Burkhart; step son-in-law, Clint Demoret; and a great-grandson.
