February 15, 1941 – November 21, 2025
Veryl Burghardt, 84, of Fayette, Iowa, died Friday, November 21, 2025, as the result of an ATV accident near Sumner, Iowa.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 AM, Saturday, November 29, 2025, at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Fayette with Rev. Ralph Davis and Deacon Michal Schemmel celebrating. Interment with military rites will follow at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church Cemetery, rural Fayette. Visitation will be from 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM, Friday, November 28 at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Fayette and for one hour preceding Mass at the Church on Saturday. A Rosary Service will be at 3:30 PM, Friday prior to the visitation. Memorials may be made to the family for later designation.
Veryl Alfred Burghardt was born on February 15, 1941, on the kitchen table of a farm house in rural Clayton County, Iowa, son of Alfred Burghardt and Eva (Groth) Burghardt. He spent his early childhood on a farm near Garnavillo before the family moved to the Sumner area. While there, Veryl spent his early elementary school years in a one room schoolhouse located on a corner of their farm. He went on to school in Randalia, later graduating from West Central in 1959. Veryl served in the United States Navy from 1959 until being honorably discharged in 1963, then returned home to the family farm. On July 23, 1966, he married Patricia Fox at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Fayette. Veryl and Pat raised their four children on a farm near Sumner, where the couple lived for over fifty years before moving to Fayette in 2021. Veryl farmed for most of those years but also attained his electrical license which he put to good use. He was mindful of public service and was very active in Farm Bureau and at one time served as Fayette County President. He was also active with the Knights of Columbus, American Legion Post #339 of Fayette, and was an active member of St. Francis Parish. After moving to Fayette, he took on a new responsibility. For four summers he kept the hanging flower baskets on main street thriving with daily watering. For Veryl, his faith, family, farming, fishing and hunting were sources of joy.
Veryl is survived by his wife, Pat of Fayette; children, Jennifer (Gene) Gleason of Costa Mesa, California, Aaron (Ingrid Barker) Burghardt of San Jose, California, Neal (Chuck Salem) Burghardt of Lewes, Delaware, and Katherine Burghardt of Minneapolis, Minnesota; two grandchildren, Brendan and Sean Gleason; four step-grandchildren; six step-great-grandchildren with one on the way; sister, LuAnn Berthel of Glendora, California; three sisters-in-law, Peggy (Keith) Schlatter of Hawkeye, Bobbie Fox of Cedar Falls, and Becky Fox of Fayette; brother-in-law, Jim (Cindy) Nefzger of Lansing; and several nieces, nephews, and extended family members.
In addition to his parents, Alfred and Eva Burghardt, he was preceded in death by his sister and her husband, Roene (George) Cammack; mother-in-law and father-in-law, Betty and Sheldon Fox; daughter-in-law, Liza Bouroujian Burghardt; sister-in-law, Deb Nefzger; and brother-in-law, Charlie Berthel.
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