Joe “J.P.” Burggraff passed away on Friday, December 18, 2015. His Mass of Christian Burial will begin at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, December 23, 2015 at St. Joseph the Workman Catholic Church at Huntimer. Visitation on Tuesday will be from 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. at Kahler Funeral Home in Dell Rapids and will resume at the church at 5:00 p.m. The Christian Wake Service will begin at 7:00 p.m. in the church.

Joe “J.P.” Burggraff was born on July 11, 1929 at the family farm near Hartford. He attended country school through eight grades near Hartford and then started farming with his family. He was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1952 and served during the Korean War. He was honorably discharged in 1955. He married Alice “Hun” Penning on June 2, 1954 at the St. Mary Catholic Church in Dell Rapids. The couple made their home on a farm near Hartford until 1958, when they moved to their farm near Colton. He retired in 1999 and continued to help out around the farm.

He was a member of St. Joseph the Workman Catholic Church and the Dell Rapids American Legion Post. He served on the Colton Elevator Board, where he was a past president, the Burke Township Board, and the church council for many years.

J.P. enjoyed his children, woodworking, welding and building many things. He played the accordion for many house parties and dances. He loved dancing and old time music.

J.P. was preceded in death by his sons, Jason, John, and Teddy; and daughter, Elizabeth; and one brother.

He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Alice “Hun” Penning of Colton; his children, Ginger Ellis of Newport News, VA, Randy (Sheila) of Round Mountain, NV, Lee (Melanie) of Dell Rapids, Jo (Kyle) Olson of Black Hawk, Bernie (Larry) Taylor of Newport News, VA, Justin (Alvina) of Sturgis, Mary (Joe) Bohlman of Belle Fourche, Charlie (Bobbie) of Colton, Willson (Alesha) of Monticello, MN, Anita (Wayne) Tidemann of Rapid City, Wade of Colton, Josh (Melissa) of Colton, and Christy (Anthony) Oberg of Colton; his 46 grandchildren and 18 great grandchildren; his two brothers and two sisters; and many nieces and nephews.

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