Gail Kay Burkholder Obituary

Gail Kay Burkholder (Arduin), a long-time resident of Grosse Pointe Farms passed away peacefully in her sleep at home on August 30, 2023, succumbing to the final stages of Alzheimer's. She was 85 years old.

Gail was born November 28th, 1937 at Sinai Grace Hospital in Detroit, MI to her parents M. Arthur and Mildred Arduin. She was baptized and confirmed at Bethany Lutheran Church in Detroit.

Before marriage she worked at Farm Crest Bakery and United States Rubber Company (Uniroyal), both in Detroit and left Valparaiso University after one year of study to fulfill her dream to marry and have a family. On October 5th, 1963 she married Richard Burkholder at Bethany, a year after meeting him on a blind date through their friends in the Walther League.

She became a loving wife and mother and enjoyed her role as a homemaker and being involved in her children's lives, school and church. She loved serving as a den mother for the Cub Scouts, leading children's Sunday School and VBS, participating in her ladies' card club, doing arts and crafts, singing in numerous church choirs and with the Detroit Lutheran Singers for many years. One of her proudest moments was when she was selected for Lutheran Woman of the Year at Peace Lutheran Church in Warren.

As a homemaker she took pride in making home-cooked meals and desserts for her family, hosting dinner parties for her church friends, birthday parties and bridal showers for her children. She also enjoyed going on family bike rides and outings, along with camping in Michigan's State Parks and freighter watching. As a life-long lover of Michigan she always said that she thought that Michigan clouds were the most beautiful of any state. She also loved to take dozens of pictures at every family event. Spending time with her grandchildren gave her great joy.

As a couple married for almost 60 years, she and Richard enjoyed many other trips with family, some in other states and some outside of the US. They also faithfully supported the arts and their church: the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, the Tuesday Musicale of Detroit and Project Compassion. She faithfully and energetically devoted her time and talents at Bethany Lutheran Church and Peace Lutheran Church, serving in many roles which she took seriously, including setting up the outside sign board of the church each week with various clever sayings she collected.

Towards the end of her life, she enjoyed writing down all the Bible verses and "words of wisdom" that were especially meaningful to her. Even with her memory challenges, she still could sing her beloved Lutheran hymns, "harmonizing" in her strong alto voice, and say the Lord's Prayer by heart. She knew Jesus as her Savior and had a great faith that. He would be with her to the end and that as believers we will all be reunited in time with family and loved ones. We celebrate her life and the example she set and give thanks to the Lord for the many blessings we have received though her life here on earth. Surely the world was a better place with her in it and she will be greatly missed.

Gail is survived by her loving husband Richard, her three beloved children, Debra Closurdo (the late Lawrence), Steven (Jennifer), Daniel (Mimi) and her 4 loving grandchildren Celeste, Nathaniel, Lucas and Jason. She also is survived by her brother Mariano Arthur, Jr. (Penny) Arduin.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Gail's honor to the Good News Gang (P.O. Box 10148, Detroit, MI 48210) www.goodnewsgang.orgVisitation will be held on Friday, September 15th, 2023 from 2-8 p.m. at the Faulmann & Walsh Golden Rule Funeral Home (32814 Utica Rd, Fraser, MI 48026) and will continue on Saturday, September 16th from 10-11 a.m. at St John Lutheran Church (16339 E. 14 Mile Rd, Fraser, MI 48026) with a worship service at 11 a.m. A reception will follow at Infinity Hall (16650 E 14 Mile Rd, Fraser, MI 48026) with interment graveside 3 p.m. at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Detroit.