October 27, 1953 – May 9, 2020
Charles Michael Burkhardt, 66, Yukon, Okla., and formerly of Cicero, passed away May 9, 2020 in Oklahoma. He was born October 27, 1953 to Charles Richard and Elizabeth (Heinzman) Burkhardt.
He was a graduate of Hamilton Heights High School with the Class of 1971. He first obtained an Associate’s Degree in computer programming in Oklahoma City, Okla. He then earned a BS Degree from Rose Hulman Institute of Technology specializing in chemical engineering. He also was a member and captain of Rose Hulman’s track team.
Michael, as he was known, had worked for Enron Oil & Gas Company first designing vendor price comparisons for engineering services and later assisted in the design of sections of production, accounting, and tracking systems for daily well data, and lastly designed a drilling report program. He also wrote a production report program for Oakland Oil Company and designed a database system for the Oklahoma Horse Racing Commission.
His family attested that he was primarily a petroleum engineer, reservoir engineer for underground natural gas storage and involved in pipeline mapping. He wrote scientific computer programs for well performance evaluation using reservoir simulation programs to determine volume versus pressure curves, calculate gas reserves and retrograde condensate recovery. This process would aid in maintaining storage field deliverabilities by stimulation and acid cleanup programs.
Michael also taught computer programming courses and tutored students on programming, operations, as well as accounting courses at the college level. Additionally, he taught them on debugging programs and helped them to achieve an appropriate level of efficiency.
Survivors include his father, Charles Michael Burkhardt, Cicero; siblings, William Jay Burkhardt, John Frederick (Patty) Burkhardt, and Linda Beth (David) Kelly; nieces and nephews, Alyssa Burkhardt and husband Kanna Raghunathan, Krista Burkhardt and husband Mike Stoodley, Amanda Louise Kelly, Lara Katharine (Kelly) Prange and Matthew Prange, Zachary Adam Kelly, Alaina Faye (Kelly) Dorsey and Aaron Dorsey; plus great-nephews, Jasper Prange, Oliver Prange, Sebastian Dorsey and Elliott Dorsey.
His mother, Elizabeth Burkhardt preceded him in death.
Memorial services will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, August 1, 2020, at Hartley Funeral Home Cicero Chapel, 209 W. Jackson St., Cicero, with Pastor Neal Brown officiating. Visitation will be from noon until time of the services. Burial will occur at Cicero Cemetery at a later date. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society. You may send condolences at hartleyfuneralhomes.com.