Sterling L. Burkey

April 16, 1937 — Dec. 10, 2016

Sterling L. Burkey, 79, passed away Saturday morning at the Mennonite Village nursing home. Friends and family knew him by his nicknames: Turtle, Terle, Squirrel, Digger, Pata and Pa.

Sterling married Sherry Gross on Oct. 14, 1961, and they raised two daughters: Kerri and Kristi. He is survived by his wife; daughters; sons-in-law David Bain and Marcelo Jacobo; and grandchildren Jordan, Andrew, Kyler, and Anisa. He also leaves behind a large extended family.

Sterling was born in Flagler, Colorado, in a sod house and was delivered by his aunt, Anna Rediger. He was the third son born to Harry and Katie (Rediger) Burkey. He was preceded in death by his parents and brothers Willard, Lester and Vernon.

Sterling moved to Oregon as a child and grew up on a farm in Plainview. He attended Fairview and Plainview Mennonite churches and studied at Western Mennonite School in Salem.

Fishing was one of Sterling's lifelong passions, and he earned a living on the sea. As a commercial fisherman based out of Newport, he captained the MissQuita, Acme II, Lassie, Darle and the Oceana. He also worked at a plywood mill and operated heavy equipment for Kevin Stutzman Excavating.

As a member of Lebanon Mennonite Church, Sterling took delight in helping others, volunteering for Love in the Name of Christ (Love INC) and Mennonite Disaster Services. He helped repair homes after natural disasters in Vernonia, Dulzura, California, and Cameron, Lousiana.

Seldom leaving home without his camera, Sterling took thousands of snapshots at family events. He enthusiastically cheered on his grandchildren at their soccer games.

He was a natural storyteller and jokester who looked forward to seeing his loving friends for coffee and conversation at McDonald's most mornings.

Sterling found solace in nature and taught his friends and family how to fish and hunt. He marveled at God's creation and taught others how to admire and respect the wilderness.

He spent his last months at the Mennonite Village nursing home, where he received exceptional care and kindness from the staff.

Throughout his life, Sterling was devoted to God. He believed that actions speak louder than words, and your actions might be the only Bible some people will ever read.

He strived to be the hands and feet of Jesus, and though his hands and feet ceased to function in the end, his faith remained unbroken.

Donations may be made in his memory to Love INC, Jackson Street Youth Services or the Mennonite Village staff scholarship program.

A viewing will be from 3 to 6 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 15, at AAsum-Dufour Funeral Home. A celebration of life will be at 11 a.m. Friday, Dec. 16, at Lebanon Mennonite Church.

AAsum-Dufour Funeral Home is handling the arrangements (www.aasum-dufour.com).