farmers including one that in lieu of money, he gave Burdette a pregnant sow that gave birth to six pigs. One area Burdette enjoyed all his life was music and dancing. Starting very young when the family went to the Steffens house, one of the highlights was Burdette dancing a "jig" to music from a phonograph. Examples of music were "Home on the Range" and "Little Brown Jug". The family also went to the local dance hall and the Roof Garden at Lake Okoboji to hear the big bands (Lawrence Welk, Glenn Miller and Tiny Little). It inspired him to start playing the snare drum in the school band. School for Burdette was sometimes difficult but he enjoyed playing baseball (usually the lead-off batter) and basketball. His junior year, the baseball team went to the state tournament. Burdette was Vice President of his senior class and graduated from Calumet Liberty Township High School. In 1941, he started college at Buena Vista in Storm Lake majoring in physical education with minors in biology, sociology and industrial arts. He stayed with a widow during college doing chores and yard work for room and board. On February 13, 1943, he was inducted into the Army where he was sent for training in engine repair. He was assigned to the 9th Army Air Force. He served in England, France, Belgium, Holland and Czechoslovakia. With the end of the war, Burdette arrived home on New Year's Eve 1945 and shortly after returned to Buena Vista and got a teaching certificate. He taught and coached basketball and baseball for two years at Melvin, Iowa. Burdette said, "My philosophy in coaching was rigid training and no drinking or alcohol and at least an average grade point." The highlight of teaching at Melvin was meeting Genevieve Brewer who was teaching home economics, but she was already engaged. Burdette was persistent and said "take that ring off your finger" as he passed in the hall. She would respond with "Who do you think you are to have the best woman in town." They were married on May 25, 1947 in the First Presbyterian Church at Lakota, Iowa by Reverend E.H. Buschman. Burdette finished his Bachelors of Arts degree at Buena Vista in 1948 and then taught for another two years at Auburn, Iowa. In March 1950, Genie's family asked them to move to their farmstead to take care of them in their old age. Burdette named the farm "Farmer's Paradise," a special place which was known for its well-kept green and white buildings and groomed yard. He raised hogs, cattle, ducks, and chickens and when he wasn't in the field, he dehorned cattle, castrated hogs and he sold seed corn for Farmers Hybrid and later Trojan Seed and Tekseed. He was a member of the County Conservation Board for 13 years and a 4-H leader for 15 years. In 1958, Burdette and Genie were honored for having an Iowa Masters Swine Herd. In 2016, Genie and Burdette were presented with the Iowa Farm Bureau Century Farm Award. During this period, Burdette and Genie took in seven boys at various times in return for a job and place to live. Among them were Jerry Lund and Danny Dietrich who have remained lifelong friends. Burdette and Genie were always there to lend a helping hand whether it was loaning a car to someone, helping a neighbor at harvest time, or providing a meal if it was needed. In 1966, Burdette retired from day-to-day farming due to allergies and went back to teaching and coaching at Rake and Ledyard for seven years. Then, he decided to work as a custodian at Lakota School because it was higher pay and he could continue to interact with students. Genie and Burdette also started a carpet and flooring business in Buffalo Center ("Genie's Home Decor"). In 1996, they decided to sell the homestead and move to Waterville, Minnesota to fish and work part-time. (Walmart and HyVee) Nine years later, they moved to Buffalo Center, Iowa. As Burdette said, "We will be closer to family and friends, I can work in my workshop, help my farmer friends, play cards, and do whatever comes to mind." But, Burdette became restless and he talked to his nephew, Mike Hoeppner, into giving him a job at Village West Resort on Lake Okoboji. His job included refinishing furniture, taking care of the flowers and some fishing on the side. In 2017, he finally decided to retire at 95. One talent most people didn't know about Burdette was his artistic skills. Burdette created various handmade birthday, get well, Halloween, and other occasion cards. All of them involved cartoon characters and were absolutely hilarious. He'd get up very early to draw a card or write a letter to his family. Faith in God was always important to Burdette. He titled his life story: "God's Blessing." He was confirmed April 5, 1936 at the Evangelical Zion Church in Calumet. When Burdette and Genie moved to Lakota they joined the First Presbyterian Church. He was a trustee of the church and very active. Playing cards has been the family's favorite pastime for many years including Knock Rummy, 500, and Pinochle. In one recent game of Knock Rummy, one family member put down their cards thinking they won with three aces but Burdette slowly laid out four tens to which another family member said- "NO YOU DON'T," to which the people around the table said- "YES HE DOES!" Burdette? BURDETTE'S SMILING! Burdette is survived by his beloved wife Genevieve of 71 years, daughter Linda Lovgren (Robert Lovgren), son Burdette Charles Hoeppner; daughter, Emily Silber (Charles Silber); grandchildren: Todd Lovgren (Drue) Laura Paul (Scott), Ryan Silber (Erin), Jamie Droessler (Mike), and Kristine Kowaleski; great grandchildren: Tyson, Cole, Barrett, and Keagan Lovgren, Kathryn and Alexander Paul, MacKenzie Droessler & fiance' Zac Ree, Natasha and Gavin Droessler; and special nephew, Mike Hoeppner, and nieces, nephews, and cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents, John and Marie Hoeppner, brother Paul Hoeppner and wife Juanita, and great granddaughter Tatum Lovgren.