Rev. Herbert James "Herb" Burdsall

Rev. Herbert James “Herb” Burdsall, 95, Hays, died Wednesday, April 6, 2016 at his home.

He was born December 3, 1920 in Shandon, Ohio the son of Aaron Clarence and Blanche Leora (Murphy) Burdsall.  He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II in the South Pacific and was on landing craft in Tarawa, Tinian, and Saipan.  On February 12, 1942 he married Jeanne Dutiel in Hamilton County, Ohio.  She died June 9, 2011.  He received his Masters in Divinity degree from Colgate University in Rochester, New York.  He was a United Methodist Minister for many years serving rural churches in Simms, Sun River, Lincoln, Cascade, Augusta, the Dearborn, Miles City, and Billings, Montana, and churches in Alexandria, Ohio and North Chili, New York.  He was the Kansas CROP director for Church World Services in Topeka, KS and the Assistant Director for CROP at the national office in Elkhart, Indiana in which he traveled to Burma, Peru, Chili, Brazil, the Dominican Republic, and Haiti.  He was the director of fundraising at Greencroft Retirement Community in Goshen, Indiana and for the Yellowstone Conference in Montana.  He loved spending time with his family and grandchildren, riding motorcycles and traveling, and serving the parishioners of his numerous rural churches. 

Survivors include a son, Jonathan Burdsall and his wife Helen Peck-Burdsall of Helena, Montana, a daughter Hannah Barrett and husband Jim of Hays, five grandchildren, Aaron Burdsall and wife Angie and Matthew Burdsall and wife Miranda, all of Helena, MT, Tessie Barrett and husband Paul Talley of Brooklyn Park, MN, Jordan Barrett and wife Karen of Virginia Beach, Virginia, and Samuel Barrett and wife Kelly of Emporia, KS, twelve great grandchildren, Jasmyn, Kaelen, Caleb, Talon, Maddon, Marley, Everett, Rylea, Gwyn, Rachel, Cora, and Lucy, and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his dear wife Jeanne, a granddaughter Sarah Burdsall, a great grandson Leo Barrett, and by three brothers.

Memorial services will be at 11:00 am on Friday, May 6, 2016 at the First United Methodist Church, 305 W. 7th Street, Hays.  Military honors by the Hays VFW Honor Guard and the Hays American Legion Riders will follow the church services.  The family will receive friends from 10:00 am until service time on Friday at the church.  Memorials are suggested to Church World Services, in care of the Hays Memorial Chapel Funeral Home, 1906 Pine Street, Hays,KS 67601.  Condolences may be left for the family at www.haysmemorial.com