Hazel Mae (Book) Burkhart was born October 29, 1905, in Hawkeye Iowa to Levi E. and Sarah (Burghart) Book. She was baptized November 29, 1923, and confirmed at Trinity Lutheran Church by Rev. Kraemer in 1939, where she has been a member all her life. She attended schools in Bethel and Banks Township and her freshman year in Hawkeye.

            Her dad, Levi owned and operated the Brick Kiln located where Hauth Park is now. When she was four years old they moved southwest of town and purchased various farms and settled on the farm where Dan Schultz lives now. She spent much of her years helping her dad on the farm

            She married Marvin Burkhart July 10, 1933 at Eldorado, with Rev. Oltman officiating. They farmed southwest of Hawkeye where Don Pagel now lives for seven years. Two daughters, Marilyn and Shirley, were born on the farm. They moved to Hawkeye in 1940, and bought the Clover Farms Grocery Store. Hazel was a clerk there until the big fire in 1943. Later they bought the Leo Johnston Grocery Store, and ran that until retiring January 1, 1970, having been in the grocery business thirty years. From 1981 to 1991, Hazel was a greeter at Becker-Milnes Funeral Home in Hawkeye.

           Hazel was a lifelong member of Trinity Lutheran Church and Martha Circle where she did a lot of quilting, made many blankets, and crocheted many afghans. She loved to play cards, especially skip-bo and bingo, and go to the casino with her friend Cloe Noel. She had to give up many of her activities as her eyesight was failing for thirty years, but did very well with her handicap. She enjoyed life and people, never thinking of herself.

           After breaking her hip, she moved to Hawkeye Senior Citizens Apartments where she lived for ten years. On April 29, 2009, she moved to Traditions (assisted living) in West Union, and remained there until her death, which came on Sunday, December 5, 2010 at 2:45 a.m. She enjoyed family and friends and made new friends at Traditions. She lived life to the fullest.

           She is survived by two daughters, Marilyn Wedemeier of Hawkeye and Shirley (Kenneth) Brockhouse of Pleasant Valley, Iowa; ten grandchildren; sixteen great grandchildren; one great great grandchild; and many nieces and nephews.

            Hazel was preceded in death by her husband, Marvin who died on April 24, 1981; her parents; three sisters, Bess Traeger, Mabel House, and Ruth Smale; and one son-in-law, Henry Wedemeier.         

            Memorial services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, December 11, 2010, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Hawkeye with Rev. William Horn officiating. Friends may call from 3:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m., Friday, December 10, 2010, at Becker-Milnes Funeral Home in Hawkeye and for one hour preceding services at the church on Saturday. Inurnment will be at 1:30 p.m., Saturday, December 11, 2010, at West Union Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to Trinity Lutheran Church in Hawkeye or the West Union Cemetery.