CHARLES MORRIS BURKNER
November 14, 1937 December 6, 2022
Charles “Charlie” Morris Burkner passed away December 6, 2022, at the age of 85.
Born November 14, 1937, to Otto Paul Burkner and Martha Dora (Helmke) Burkner, Charles was a lifelong resident of Stockton. He grew up on a small, diversified farm in the heart of north Stockton when one of the city’s main north/ south roads was not straight but meandered around the family farm.
He attended Woodrow Wilson Elementary School, Trinity Lutheran School (which his parents helped found), and Stockton High School before matriculating to Stockton Junior College (now San Joaquin Delta College).
After junior college, Charles enlisted in the U.S. Army and served three years, one year stationed in post-war South Korea.
After honorable military discharge, he returned to Stockton where his employment included tractor driver for Ripken Farms and machinist at Caroll Pump Works (Linden) and J. Milano Company (Stockton).
In 1972, Charles was a founding partner of Cal Grape Equipment, the first company to mechanically harvest wine grapes in San Joaquin County.
In 1979, Charles, along with his brother, Paul, and a third partner, Claude Brown, founded Ag Industrial Manufacturing, Inc. (AIM, Inc.). The company grew to specialize in vineyard mechanization and other custom ag and industrial equipment. In 1990, AIM developed a grape harvester model that is still manufactured today. Charles served as AIM Machine Shop Manager for over 20 years before retiring.
During his youth and throughout his adulthood, Charles enjoyed exploring and fishing the San Joaquin Delta, especially with childhood friend and Army buddy, John McDonald.
Charles was close friends with former employee, Robert Greenmyer, and looked forward to visiting with him and his family whenever possible, often getting his hair cut by Robert.
Over the years, Charles also enjoyed many farm operation tours with childhood neighbor and friend Robert Ripken, congenial visits with Leroy Ehlers, and attending surplus sales/auctions and hunting in the Delta with with Ralph Hirt.
Charles appreciated getting away to the family cabin in Calistoga where he relished spending time “offthe-grid”—no public utilities or electricity, no phone lines, and no problems! Cooking and heating were by wood stove, and common recreational activities included wood cutting, bulldozer work, fruit picking, and afternoon naps.
Until his unexpected passing, Charles was active in overseeing family farming endeavors in Kansas and Oklahoma and looked forward to yearly visits with the operating tenants.
Charles was a quiet but ardent supporter of Cal Poly (California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo), most recently contributing to the Justin and J. Lohr Center for Wine & Viticulture, the largest entirely donor-funded project in California State University history.
Charles is preceded in death by his parents and is survived by his younger brother, Paul Burkner, and niece, Monica Burkner.
Friends are invited to an informal memorial reception with refreshments, February 5, 1:00 - 4:00 p.m. at the San Joaquin Historical Museum - Ledbetter Family Barn, 11793 N. Micke Grove Road, Lodi. Dress is casual. Kindly RSVP to charlieburknermemorial@gmail. com or (209) 481-1085 for entry gate instructions.
In Charles’ memory and in lieu of flowers, a donation to one of the following would be appreciated:
— Charles M. Burkner Learn-By-Doing Scholarship Fund; College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences,
California Polytechnic State University, 1 Grand Ave, San Luis Obispo, CA 93407
— San Joaquin County Historical Society and Museum, 11793 Micke Grove Rd, Lodi, CA 95240
— St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church, 40291 NE 40th Ave, Preston, KS 67583
—or your favorite charity Please sign the guest book at www.lodinews.com/ guestbook.