Donald Charles Burtner

June 24, 2017 Last Updated: June 24, 2017 06:07 PM Death Notice

Donald Charles Burtner, 69, of Butler passed away Thursday at his residence.

He was born March 27, 1948, in Butler to the late Charles Keith Burtner and Mary Elizabeth Greer Burtner.

Donald graduated from Knoch High School. He was a veteran of the U.S. Navy serving aboard the aircraft carrier USS Forrestal. After his military service, Don attended Butler County Community College, Wayne State University in Detroit and Slippery Rock University, as well as Computer Tech of Pittsburgh, where he earned a computer programmer degree. In 1987, Don graduated with honors from Butler County Community College School of Nursing.

Donald began his nursing career in the newly opened Liver Transplant Center at Presbyterian University Hospital, Pittsburgh. Don subsequently, took a travel assignment in the Open-Heart Recovery Unit at Kuakini Medical Center, Honolulu, Hawaii. He and his family spent the next 17 years in Hawaii where he worked as the director of emergency services and telemetry units at St. Francis Medical Center in Honolulu.

Donald returned to Butler where he worked at Butler Health System as a nursing supervisor until his retirement in 2016.

Donald was a member of the First United Methodist Church, American Legion Post 417 of Prospect and the YMCA of Butler. He enjoyed flying small aircraft and earned his pilot's license as a teenager. He also enjoyed hunting, fishing and woodworking. Donald loved being with his family.

Donald is survived by his wife, Kathleen, who he married on Oct. 2, 1971; three sons, Daniel Charles Burtner of Butler, Joseph Donald Burtner and his wife, Janet, of Butler, and Michael David Burtner of Butler; one grandson, Anthony Joseph Burtner; a brother, Bruce K. Burtner, and his wife, Sue, of Butler; two sisters, Nancy Heberling and her husband, Tom, of Hilton Head, S.C., and Janet Matusak of Middletown, Ohio; and a number of aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews.

BURTNER — Friends of Donald Charles Burtner, who died Thursday, May 18, 2017, will be received from 1 to 4 and 6 to 9 p.m. Friday at Thompson-Miller Funeral Home, 124 E. North St., Butler.Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday at the First United Methodist Church, 200 E. North St., Butler, with the Rev. Rob Gillgrist officiating.Burial will take place in the Summit Presbyterian Church Cemetery.Online condolences can be given at www.thompson-miller.com.