Gisela M Burkhart, 89 years of Yorkville, IL died on Saturday, August 15, 2026, at Ignite Health Resort in Batavia, IL. She was born March 10, 1937, in Oels, Germany the daughter of the late Gustaf and Margaret (Gebauer) Hengmith.

She led an extremely hard young life in Germany spending two years in a Russian Concentration Camp where her brothers Manfred, Klaus and sister Erica all died of malnutrition. After escaping to West Germany, they spent two years in a refugee camp. In 1963 she and her daughter came to the United States. She loved her newfound country the United States of America. In 1969 she married Leonard Burkhart.

She was a hardworking individual working at several locations over the years and at the same time she found time to devote to those less fortunate' serving as a foster parent to over one hundred foster children. She enjoyed gathering with fellow members of DANK, German American National Congress (Deutsch Amerikanischer National Kongress. A US-based organization to preserve German heritage and culture.

She is survived by her husband Leonard Burkhart, (Whom she met at the Copper Kettle in Oswego, IL) daughter Anita Halmagyi, two grandchildren Neil (Marilyn Johnson) Halmagyi, Nathan Halmagyi, and two great grandchildren Diana Halmagyi and Francesca Halmagyi, her brother Eberhardt Hengmith and sister Annsliese Bartroff. Just to mention a few of her many foster children Gisela and Leonard opened there home to Lisa Carter, Rosa Revas, Karen Nichols, Kathy Phillips, Shannon Riley, Jimmy Herman and many others.

Special thanks from the family to Paul and Irene Weis.

There will be no visitation, and a memorial service will be held in the future to celebrate her life.

Memorials may be directed to either the Kendall County Animal Shelter, 802 John St, Yorkville, IL 60560 or A.D.O.P.T. Pet Shelter, 420 Industrial Drive, PO Box 2528, Naperville, IL 60567.

Services are entrusted to DUNN FAMILY FUNERAL HOME with CREMATORY, 1801 Douglas Road, Oswego, IL 60543. For additional information 630/554-3888 or www.dunnfamilyfuneralhome.com