Sidney Burkholder

Sidney Jay Burkholder was born at Joslin Hospital in Harper, Kansas on January 26, 1955 to Charles Howard and Selma Elizabeth (Tatman) Burkholder. He passed away peacefully at Patterson Health Center, Anthony, Kansas on August 13, 2026, from esophagus cancer. He was 71 years old.

Sid was a lively, mischievous boy; a twinkle in his eye and a smile on his face. He loved playing around the farm, enjoying the family’s pets and ponies. But what he really enjoyed was teasing his brothers and sisters! Those included: Martha Jean, Elizabeth Joan, Howard Charles, Margaret Ellen, Dennis Carl, and Gilbert Ray. He was so proud of his mother’s beautiful hand-quilting, and he enjoyed riding in the truck to area livestock sales with his dad. These are things he truly missed when he went to school.

Sid attended Silver Creek Country School, and when it closed, he went to Attica. In the eighth grade he transferred to Harper and graduated from Chaparral High School in 1974.

While attending Chaparral, he met TaLana Lu “Lanie” Dautel. They were married by Jim Fowler at the Anthony Christian Church on September 20, 1975. They were best friends for life.

On June 28, 1985, Sid and Lanie chose brown haired, blue eyed, with a huge smile, Jonathan Jay to complete their family. Sid and Lanie were always happy they had chosen the “add-option” as they raised their son. Jonathan opened a new world to his parents. He grew up playing under the same trees and had many of the same adventures at the farm his dad grew up on. He worked endless hours with his dad, working the cattle and operating farm equipment. Sid and Lanie enjoyed watching Jonathan run – and a runner he was! From seventh grade through Hutchinson Community College, Jon ran. Sid and Lanie traveled all over Kansas and from Texas to Michigan to watch Jonathan. In all those years and miles they only missed one race.

Sid accepted his Father God, the Lord Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit as a youth. He was baptized and became a lifetime member of the Crystal Springs Mennonite Church of Harper, Kansas. He had a deep love for his church family.

Sid chose farming as his occupation. He loved the land and his cattle. This past harvest, Sid was able to combine his own wheat. Jonathan drove the trucks with Sid’s last wheat crop to the elevator. Sid was so pleased that he and Jonathan worked together to bring in that last harvest.

Sid loved Harper County and the people living here. He gave to his community in several capacities. Sid served several years on the Harper County Farm Bureau Board, the Anthony Farmers Cooperative Board, the Board of Harper County Commissioners, Harper Rural Water District #5 Board, and the Anthony Gun Club Board. He served on boards outside of Harper County also. Sid had a huge heart for serving.

Sid loved sports, from football, basketball, to running track, bowling, baseball, fast pitch, hunting, and fishing. Sid’s favorite sport was definitely trapshooting! He enjoyed traveling to shoots and brought home numerous trophies. His favorite trophies were the many friends he made at trapshoots. You fellow trapshooters meant a lot to Sid.

Sid played an instrumental role in helping the USA High School Clay Target League become a reality in the state of Kansas. Not only did he foster the beginning of the Chaparral Trapshooting Team, but he also encouraged other schools in the startup of their own teams. Interestingly, some of those became Chaparral’s rivals (always in fun)! He enjoyed teaching safety and the fundamentals of shooting to the team. He would then step back to let the individual develop their style. Afterward, he would do a little ‘polishing’ on their technique. Nothing was more fun than to watch Sid’s little dance and hearing his whoop when an individual achieved their goal! Sid loved his team members and their families on, and off, the trap field.

Sid enjoyed people. He loved family gatherings. Friends, food, fellowship, and trapshooting were among his favorite things. Sid and Lanie enjoyed each other and were best friends. They loved to travel and enjoyed many hobbies together. If Sid didn’t know you, that was soon remedied by Sid! He knew no strangers, just friends he hadn’t met.

Preceding Sid in death were his parents; sister Martha Jean; brother Dennis Carl; brother-in-law’s, John Myers and Bob Wohlschlegel, and Richard L. McKee; parents-in-law Bill and Pat Dautel.

Those cherishing his memory are his wife, Lanie of Harper; son, Jonathan Burkholder and wife Alicia of Danville; grandsons; J-Dean, Mikhail, Brigham, and Killian; step-granddaughter, Emma; siblings: Joan Wohlschlegel, Harper, Margaret Johnson (Arthur), Rochester, Minnesota, Howard Burkholder (Eileen) of Hutchinson, Kansas, and Gilbert Burkholder (Kathy) of Harper; his sister-in-law, Toni McKee of Anthony and brother-in-law, Todd Dautel of Lawrence; many beloved nieces and nephews, and other relatives; the Chaparral Trapshooting Team and families; fellow coaches, and a host of trapshooting friends.

Celebration of Life is at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, October 3, 2026 at Pleasant Valley Mennonite Church, Harper, with Pastor Royce Vogt officiating. A reception at the church will follow. Inurnment will then take place at the Crystal Springs Mennonite Cemetery at approximately 4:30 p.m.

Memorials contributions may be made payable to the Sid Burkholder Memorial Fund and can be sent in care of the funeral home. The memorial fund will be divided amongst local organizations that Sid would appreciate supporting.

Prairie Rose Funeral Homes, 613 W 14th ~ Harper, Kansas 67058