Leonard Arthur Burkhard

Leonard Arthur Burkhard ``Do the very best you can... and leave the outcome to God.' Leonard Arthur Burkhard lived by those words. He made his transition from this earthly life to be with his Lord on Thursday, Sept. 23, 2011. Born in Ohio on Nov. 20, 1911, Len was very involved in his faith, and regularly attended Fairlawn Lutheran Church, until he was needed at home. Leonard was a working printer until 2003, having started as an apprentice in 1930. At the time he retired, he was said to be the oldest working printer in the state, a fact he was very proud of. He was very active in his business, and with business affiliations. He enjoyed working, always giving his customers individual, personalized service, which was his trademark. He also loved music his whole life, starting a professional career at 14, playing piano for silent movies, and burlesque shows. For several years, he played requests on radio, WFJC, WAKR and WCUE. He has written hundreds of original songs, played for movie stars, and the average Joe. He regularly played for the Masons, the Kiwanis, and anyone else who wanted to listen. He also played with a 17-piece big band, The Noblemen, up until a few years ago. He was known as Mr. Kiwanis, having joined the Kenmore Branch of Kiwanis in 1972. He still attended regular weekly meetings for years, even though he had given up his business. He always said, ``they can't eat lunch until I play the piano.' He wrote an original song ``You're In Kiwanis Now,' for the group, and got to hear the entire audience sing it at a Cleveland Indians baseball game, a thrill he never forgot. He was past president of Kiwanis, 1990-1991. He was preceded in death by his stepdaughter, Linda Shreve Marcus and his brothers, Paul, Fred, and Harold, and daughter-in-law, Jackie. He is survived by his loving wife, Mary; sons and daughter-in-law, Michael and Katharine Shreve, John Zofchak, Russell Shreve; Richard Burkhard, Robert Burkhard, Norm Burns; daughter and sons-in-law, Sharon and Paul Lorentzen and Michael Marcus; also loving friend, Penny Burkhard; grandchildren, Michelle, Eric, Adrianne, Amanda, Ellery, Aaron, Ryan, Tammy, Jim, Rob; and 10 great-grandchildren. Also his sister and brother-in-law, Ruth and Bill Ingham, and many nieces and nephews. A special thank you for all of the help and loving care he received from the staff and aides at Rockynol, Sharon, Nancy, Theresa, Judy; from Sunrise, Linda, Somorrow and Crystal; his friends at Kenmore Kiwanis, who carted him back and forth - you'll never know how much that meant to him - and his friends in the big band, who continued to have him play as long as he wanted to. A viewing will be held at the Billow FAIRLAWN Chapel, 85 N. Miller Rd., on Sunday, Sept. 25, from 2 to 4 p.m. Family will receive friends from 11 a.m. to 12, preceding the memorial service at noon, to be held at Billows on Monday, Sept. 26, followed by interment at Holy Cross Cemetery. A celebration of his life will take place at Rockynol Assisted Living, 1150 W. Market St., at 2 p.m. Condolences may be sent to 60 N. Rose Blvd., Akron, OH 44302. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in his name to either Rockynol Assisted Living or Fairlawn Lutheran Church. Billow FAIRLAWN Chapel