Obituaries

Tammy L. Burkhalter Tammy L. Burkhalter, age 60 of Spring Green and Richland Center, passed away at her home Saturday, April 8, 2023, after a two-year battle with cancer.  It would be wrong to say that Tammy lost her battle because she never stopped fighting.  Through her, we know what resilience and perseverance truly looks like. Tammy was born on January 2, 1963, in Madison, the daughter of Lloyd and Helen (Heimann) Burkhalter.  She primarily grew up in the Arena area where she had many fond memories of causing ruckus with her siblings and the neighborhood kids.  She graduated from River Valley High School and worked for many years at Thermo Dynamics as the CFO. Tammy became a loving parent to Jen in 1986, Kelsey in 1992 and grandmother to Mara and Miley, the latter deceased, in 2012.  Raising two young girls, they enjoyed many family camping trips and day trips at the river with friends.  Tammy, Jen and Kelsey later moved to the Richland Center area where they experienced farm life for the first time.  Tammy was an amazing cook and enjoyed cooking for family and friends.  Jen and Kelsey’s friends knew they were always welcome to a leftover plate from the refrigerator and the best snack selection in the designated “junk food” drawer.  Tammy liked to travel to warmer climates during our cold Wisconsin winters.  She traveled to several destinations in Mexico and Jamaica, Saint Lucia and Costa Rica.  She also traveled to many states within the U.S., one of which included a yearly “girls’ trip” to Siesta Key because Mara loves the beach.  Tammy always took pride in her flower beds and enjoyed working outside.  She enjoyed relaxing on the patio with a glass of wine, listening to her favorite music and admiring her hard work.  Later in life Tammy met Ron and they made it a tradition to enjoy a good old-fashioned fish fry most Friday nights.  Many of their sunny Sunday afternoons consisted of rides on the Harley or Tammy riding shotgun in Ron’s cool car going to the Rockton Bar for their famous chicken dinners. Tammy was known for her kind heart and thoughtful nature.  She was independent and strong, but still had a soft side to her.  She cared for many and always put others before herself.  Tammy will be missed by many, but her memory will live on. Survivors include her daughters, Jennifer Peterson of Lone Rock, Kelsey Peterson of Richland Center; a granddaughter, Mara Stadele; her fiancée, Ron Parker of Richland Center; four siblings, Robert (Betty) Burkhalter of Mayer, Arizona, Dave (Lori) Burkhalter of Wisconsin Dells, Debra (Tom) Ahrens of Appleton, Tim Burkhalter of Prairie du Sac; a sister-in-law, Becky Burkhalter of Bruceton, Tennessee; other relatives and friends.  She was preceded in death by her parents Lloyd and Helen Burkhalter; a granddaughter, Miley Stadele; two brothers, John “Jack” and Tom Burkhalter; and a sister, Linda Rhodes. A memorial visitation will be held on Saturday, May 6, 2023, at the Richardson-Stafford Funeral Home in Spring Green,  from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.  A Celebration of Life will be held following the visitation at the Wisconsin Riverside Resort. A private family burial will take place at a later date in the Spring Green Cemetery.   Online condolences available at www.staffordfuneralhomes.com.  The Richardson-Stafford Funeral Home in Spring Green is assisting the family with the arrangements.