Lowell Burkum

Lowell A. Burkum, age 88, died May 10, 2024 in Council Bluffs, Iowa.

He was born November 20, 1935 in Ladysmith, Wisconsin to Arnold and Mildred (Henthorn) Burkum. His mother was a loving, caring, and self-sacrificing mom. She was the spiritual teacher and example for Lowell and his siblings. She saw to it that they were in church and Sunday school and encouraged them to do their best to be like Jesus. This, Lowell would say, "made all the difference in the life choices I made, including how I would serve God and the choices I would make about friends and eventually the girl I would choose to marry."

Not surprisingly, Lowell's favorite activities and subjects in High School were band and choir which earned him the nickname "Birdy." In the absence of a father at home, his choir director, Mr. Johnson, became a sort of surrogate father to him. Lowell won many state contest awards in music, he also excelled in English, tennis, and basketball because "you didn't have to be six and a half feet tall in those days."

Lowell's college education included the Minneapolis School of Music, Minnesota Bible College, and Nebraska Christian College. His early ministry years included choral directing at Minnesota Bible College and preaching at the Lillian Church of Christ (Broken Bow, NE).

His 30 years at Nebraska Christian College - teaching music, directing choirs, teaching homiletics, and serving as director of development - were the largest chapter of his ministry life. The deep and abiding friendships Mr. B had with colleagues and students during those decades of service at NCC are too many to enumerate, but it is safe to say his love and respect for them was undeniable.

Lowell directed his later ministry years to serving as the Minister of Music and Worship at First Christian Church in Council Bluffs, IA. He was committed to blessing the regular worship services with quality music that inspired faith, encouraged participation, bolstered sound doctrine, and stirred hearts toward active response. The epic Christmas and Easter musicals during those years are legendary.

The many years of ministry and beloved friendships Lowell and Dixie had with the Watchmen Quartet - Harold (Ruth Ann) McCracken, Duane (Peggy) King, Bob (Pat) Chitwood) - proved to be more lasting, loving, and formative than most people ever experience even with family. A choir director at heart to the very end, Lowell impacted the lives of thousands through his NCC choirs, New Way Singers programs, First Christian Church, and Risen Son Christian Village.

How would Lowell like to be remembered? We don't need to guess, because when asked that question by a grandson in recent years, he wrote: "I would like to be remembered as a loving husband. Looking back over the years, I know there were many times when I could have done better, but I hope Grandma will agree that I got better at it as we grew up together. I would like to remember and be remembered by my children and beyond like the Proverb says, 'Children's children are a crown to the aged, and parents are the pride of their children' (Prov. 17:6). I loved my work at Nebraska Christian College, with the Watchmen Quartet, at First Christian Church, and would like to be remembered by my students and colleagues as a helpful teacher and co-worker. I hope several hundred high school students who participated in the New Way Singer program will remember it as fun, but also a deepening of their spiritual lives. And it would be a blessing to be remembered by our friends at Risen Son Christian Village, as good neighbors and encouragers through the Golden Chorale and the Risen Son Quartet. And like David prayed, 'Remember, Lord, your great mercy and love, for they are from old. Do not remember the sins of my youth and my rebellious ways; according to your love remember me, for you, Lord, are good' (Ps. 25:5-7)."

In addition to his parents, Lowell was preceded in death by his siblings, Gayle Burkum, Donald Burkum, Anita Robertson; and great grandson, Felix. 

He is survived by his wife of 68 years, Dixie (Carlson) Burkum; children, David (Cheri) Burkum, Joel (Penni) Burkum, Angela (Jeff) Hicks, Stephanie (Scott) Driscoll, Jason (Marcy) Burkum; 14 grandchildren; 23 great-grandchildren; nieces, nephews, and a host of other family and friends.

Funeral Service is Friday, May 17, 2024, 2:00 p.m. at the Hoy-Kilnoski Funeral Home. Rather than a visitation prior to the service, there will be a cookie and coffee reception after the service.

We're having an impromptu choir at Lowell Burkum's funeral on Friday. If you are a friend, family member, or former choir member who enjoyed singing with Lowell, we hope you will be a part of this casual choir and come forward when we call on you. We'll be singing Lowell's song: "Happiness Is Following Jesus." No fancy arrangement, no rehearsal, just an impromptu sing-along. We will have the words printed up, nice and big so they will be easy to read. Attached is a link to the song. We'll be doing it something like this, but in a lower, easy-to-sing key. Please forward this invitation to anyone you know who might want to join us in this special opportunity to remember and honor Lowell.

Memorials are suggested to: For God's Children International, First Christian Church, Risen Son Christian Village, or Deaf Missions.