Kathryn Dee Burgchardt

Kathryn was born on November 13, 1956, in Denver, Colorado, to Carl R. Burgchardt, Jr., and Elva Lucy Reynolds Burgchardt. Kathryn had the love and companionship of two brothers: Carl R. Burgchardt III and Kurt Reynolds Burgchardt. Growing up in West Virginia and Pennsylvania, young Kathryn loved to read, and later on, she was active in school plays. She graduated from Warren (PA) Area High School in 1974 and attended the Pennsylvania State University, where she majored in Speech Communication and graduated with high honors in 1978. Subsequently, Kathryn attended law school at the University of Pittsburg, earning a J.D. degree in 1981. Her inspiration for pursuing a law degree was the fictional character Atticus Finch. She was a member of the Texas and Pennsylvania bar associations. Kathryn practiced bankruptcy law in San Antonio before joining the U. S. Navy as a member of the Judge Advocate General Corps. This led to her finding the love of her life, her husband, Alan. She was stationed in the Philippines, Japan, and at the National Security Agency in Maryland before returning to civilian life. She was proud of her military service. Kathryn next worked for the Social Security Administration in the Office of Hearings and Operation, serving in Albuquerque, Baltimore, and Detroit, rising from the positions of attorney-advisor and Hearing Office Director to Chief Administrative Law Judge for the Colorado Springs office in 2008. She retired in 2024.

Kathryn married John Alan Beall in 2005, a fellow attorney and Administrative Law Judge. The couple enjoyed traveling and took several trips through Europe and the Far East. After retirement, Kathryn was active in the Colorado Springs (Zebulon Pike) chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution.

Kathryn is survived by her husband, John Alan Beall (Colorado Springs) and her brothers Carl Burgchardt (Fort Collins) and Kurt Burgchardt (Colorado Springs).

All who knew her loved and appreciated Kathryn. She was forthright, but caring and generous, always willing to support relatives and friends in need. In addition, Kathryn was a significant role model for her nieces, Lucy Burgchardt and Jane Burgchardt Wright. She also mentored co-workers, helping them advance in their careers. Kathryn was the person in our family who stayed connected with everyone. She routinely sent out greeting cards for birthdays and every holiday, helped organize celebrations, and kept informed on the latest family news. Everyone who knew Kathryn was delighted by her ability to tell dramatic stories, complete with sweeping gestures and vocal effects. We miss her strength, integrity, organizational ability, and sense of humor. Our loss is profound, but we are sustained by happy memories of Kathryn Dee Burgchardt.