Robert A. “Bob” Burghart Jr., 88, of Marshall, passed away peacefully at his home on Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026, surrounded by his loving family.
A memorial service celebrating Bob’s life was held on Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2026, at Grace Baptist Church, 500 Cosmopolitan Avenue, Marshall, Michigan 49068. Interment will take place on a later date at Walton Cemetery in Walton, New York. The family is being served by Lighthouse Funeral & Cremation in Union City.
Bob was born on Jan. 21, 1937, in Walton, New York, to Robert and Christina (Budine) Burghart, Sr. He graduated from Walton High School in 1954 and went on to earn an agricultural degree from Morrisville State College. He then proudly served in the United States Army from 1957 to 1962. His time stationed in Berlin in the late 1950s was a particularly formative period; he was a proud member of the Army’s pistol team, and it was during these years that he developed a deep affection for Germany, a love that would eventually call him back to the country as a missionary. Following his military service, he enrolled at Baptist Bible Seminary in Johnson City, New York. It was there he met his future wife, Rita Gardner, before graduating in 1965 with a degree in Christian Education.
On August 20, 1965, Bob married Rita in Seattle, Washington. Together they shared 60 years of marriage and raised a family grounded in faith, service, and love. Over the years, Bob worked as a schoolteacher, social worker, and draftsman for Vermeer Corporation. The work closest to his heart, however, was missionary service, which took Bob and his family to Munich, Germany. While living in Munich, he joyfully connected with the local community in many ways: hosting back-yard Bible clubs for neighborhood children, engaging with the public at outreach booths, and joining a local sports club to play basketball with new German friends.
Bob was a man of many passions, from quiet moments with his coin collection, classical music, and small projects to the energy he channeled as a life-long runner. His dedication to running led him to compete in the Iowa Senior Games and eventually took him to the national stage, where he competed in relay events at the National Senior Games in St. Louis. But for all his personal pursuits, his most profound joy was always found with his family. He was a fixture in the stands and in the audience, a dedicated supporter of them all: he proudly attended every concert his wife performed in, cheered at his grandchildren’s many sporting events, and beamed with pride at the musical and theatrical performances of his children and grandchildren. He cherished the time spent traveling with them, creating a lifetime of memories on trips to visit family in upstate New York. During their years living abroad as missionaries, he led the family on adventures all over Europe, instilling a love for new cultures and experiences that they would carry with them always.
Surviving are his wife of 60 years, Rita Burghart of Marshall, Michigan; his children, Robert (Gwen) Burghart, III of West Chicago, Illinois, Heidi Fouty of Ceresco, Randall (Kristen) Burghart of Grand Rapids, Heike (Sarah Genevieve) Burghart Rice of State College, Pennsylvania, and Hannelore (Andrew) Burghart of Brattleboro, Vermont; his grandchildren, Emerson Burghart, Lawson Burghart, Felicity (Braydyn) Burghart-Poe, Esme Burghart, Ransom Burghart, Gregory (Abbigail) Fouty, Katherine (Everett) Lanphar, Timothy Fouty, Michael Fouty, Grace Fouty, Chauncey Burghart, Rowan Burghart, Finneus Burghart, Cecily Burghart, Hugo Rice, Osanna Rice, Benedikt Rice, and Savanna Kastanie; his great-grandchildren, Andrew Lanphar, Rosealyn Lanphar, and Titus Lanphar; and many nieces and nephews.
Bob was preceded in death by his parents; his daughter, Heather Burghart-Cottrell; his brothers, William, Raymond, and Roy Burghart; and his sister, Janice Hoag.
Memorial contributions may be made to Iowa Regular Baptist Camp, PO Box 80, Ventura, IA 50482 or online at https://irbc.org/donate/donate
