Sara Ellen Burkholder

Jun 10, 1937 -

Apr 13, 2026

Sara Ellen Burkholder, age 88, passed away on April 13, 2026, in Anchorage, Alaska. Sara was born to Thomas and Lillian (Woodrich) Neeb on June 10, 1937, in Buffalo, N.Y. At the age of 3, the family moved to the suburb of Williamsville. Her younger sister Susan was born June 30, 1944. Her father was employed by the Niagara Mohawk Power company and in 1950 he was transferred to Dunkirk, N.Y., to the facility there. The family lived in Dunkirk while remodeling a home in nearby Forestville. Sara graduated from high school there and went on to get a Bachelor of Arts in teaching at Fredonia State Teachers College.

Upon graduating she took a teaching job in North Tonawanda, N.Y., at the Grant Street school. After teaching there for two years she and her roommate struck out for Anchorage in 1961, where they had been offered teaching jobs in the Anchorage School District. During those early years in Alaska, she met John Burkholder. They were married in 1968 and had two children, Matthew and Melinda. In 1979, Sara resumed her teaching career at Willow Crest Elementary School after taking time off to stay home with the kids and she taught there until she retired in 1992.

After retiring, Sara worked at Waldenbooks, worked on her family's genealogy, enjoyed traveling with John in their RV seeing much of the United States and Canada, traveling in Europe and even went on a couple of cruises. Reading, memoir writing and singing with the Senior Center Chorus were activities she also enjoyed. In 2003, with the arrival of her first grandchild, babysitting grandkids also became an enjoyable pastime.

If asked to share her most sterling accomplishment she would reply - having a great husband and two children who are an asset to the community and their individual families. Sara is survived by her husband, John Burkholder, of 57 years; son, Matthew with wife Jennifer (Perham) and their two daughters; daughter, Melinda with husband Chris Myers and their son and daughter; and many nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews.

Along with her parents, Sara was preceded in death by her sister Susan Szewc and her husband Richard.

A celebration of her life will take place on June 14, 2026, at the Anchorage Golf Course, 3651 O'Malley Road, Anchorage, AK 99517, between 2-4 p.m. Please stop by to share stories and have hors d'oeuvres and refreshments. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made in her name to one of the following: Planned Parenthood Northwest – designated to Alaska; Anchorage Library Foundation; or Alaska Master Gardeners Anchorage.