MELVIN HARVEY BUHRKUHL
Melvin Harvey Buhrkuhl was born in a log cabin in New London, Missouri on August 20, 1930 to Edwarn Carl Buhrkuhl and Laura Ruth Harvey. He grew up outside of Hannibal, Missouri. His family were sharecroppers during the Great Depression. At age 12, he made a personal profession of faith in Jesus Christ at the Olivet Christian Church in Center, Missouri. The family moved to Yuba City in 1948 where he completed his senior year of high school. In 1952, he was drafted into the army and served in the Korean War and was honorably discharged as a corporal in 1953. After returning to Yuba City, he served as a youth leader in the Marysville Christian Church. He started working for Pacific Gas and Electric Company in 1954 and worked primarily as a journeyman carpenter for the next 37 years in Fresno, San Francisco, and Stockton.
He met Mathilda Janzen Warkentin in 1960 at the Fresno Gospel Rescue Mission where they were both volunteering, she as a nurse, and Mel as handyman. They married April 8, 1961 in Reedley, California. After a short time in the Bay area, they moved to
Stockton in 1962. Over the next five years they welcomed Beverly, Timothy, and Laura. Church was a priority and Mel led his family by serving faithfully in a variety of ministries at both Stockton Christian Missionary and Alliance and Quail Lakes Baptist Church. He taught Sunday School, served as an elder, volunteered on international missions trips, taught Eager Beavers preschool class and supported various ministries financially. Mel was quick to build something, volunteer to help serve in whatever capacity he could with his hands.
Mathilda preceded Mel in death in 2012. Mel leaves behind his three children, Bev Hathorn (Jon), Tim Buhrkuhl (Brenda), and Laura Stone (John); ten grandchildren, Christi Journagan (Casey), Heidi Verheyden (Eric), Caitlyn Wheeler (John Mark), Zachary Stone (Mandy), Marcus Olivares-Perez (Katie), Emily Buhrkuhl, Nathan Buhrkuhl, Jared Stone, Kaylee Buhrkuhl, and Matthew Buhrkuhl; three great grandchildren, Riley, Hunter and Emmaline Verheyden, and an additional great granddaughter due in June. He also leaves behind his siblings, Vernon Buhrkuhl and Buena Ravenscraft. He was preceded in death by his brother, Dale Buhrkuhl.
Mel passed into glory on April 19, 2021. A memorial service will be held at Lincoln Presbyterian in Stockton at 10:00 on May 22, 2021. The service can also be viewed using the following link: https:// youtu.be/PXcUDu5cuVU In lieu of flowers, donations may be given to the Stockton Gospel Rescue Mission’s New Life Program, 445 S. South Joaquin St. Stockton CA 95203.
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