Robert C. Burhanna

Robert Carl Burhanna, beloved husband, father and grandfather, passed away at his home in Geneva after a fierce and courageous battle with cancer. His family and loved ones comforted him until the end. He was 69 years old. Robert was born in Geneva on 14 April 1940 to Carl Henry Burhanna and Virginia Allen (Perry) Burhanna. He graduated from Spencer High School in 1958 and then attended Case Institute of Technology, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering in 1963. He went on to an impressive career in industry, working for Harvey Hubbell, Rockwell Automation and Allen Bradley. He worked on a number of projects important to his nation?s security and success, including NASA?s Space Shuttle and the Navy?s F-14 Tomcat fighter jet. He later became an expert in factory automation and robotics, eventually starting his own consulting firm Factory Systems. In 1988 he joined the faculty of Kent State University?s College of Technology and taught full-time at the Ashtabula Campus for twenty years. After retiring from Kent State in 2007, Robert taught part-time and pursued his life-long love of martial arts. He married his beloved wife Susan Helen (Salchow) on 17 July 1965 in Perry, Ohio and together they raised a family of three boys for whom he felt great pride and joy. He and his wife recently celebrated their 44th wedding anniversary. His sons and their families are Kenneth James, wife Taryn (West) and daughter Virginia of Kent, Ohio; Douglas Carl, wife Amy (Scally) and children Jordan, Reilly, Casey and Isabella of Cape May Court House, New Jersey; and Marcus Robert, wife Eileen (Durst) and children Abraham, Noah and Ada of New Carlisle, Ohio. Robert will be remembered fondly by his many students, especially by those who studied martial arts under him, who will always know him respectfully as Sensei. Robert began teaching the martial art Shorinji Kempo in 1975 and continued until 2009. Over the years he taught Kempo to hundreds of students in many communities throughout northeast Ohio, including Madison, Perry, Unionville, Geneva and Ashtabula. It was said of him by other martial artists in the area that if you can?t find a place to practice or a person to practice with, go find Bob Burhanna. He taught his last Kempo class this past May. Before his passing, he made arrangements for his class to continue at Kent State University in Ashtabula. A son of the Western Reserve, Robert lived in Geneva his whole life and was proud of his heritage. His ancestors were among the first settlers of Lake and Ashtabula counties, they themselves descending from the first settlers of the Massachusetts and Connecticut colonies. His father Carl and mother Virginia preceded him in death. He is survived by his wife Susan, three sons and eight grandchildren. Friends will be received 2-4:00 pm & 6-8:00 pm, Wednesday, August 26, 2009 at The Behm Family Funeral Homes & Crematory, 175 South Broadway, Geneva, Ohio. Funeral Service will be 10:00 a.m., Thursday, August 27, 2009 at the funeral home. Rev. David Hill, of the Geneva United Methodist Church, will be officiating. Burial will follow in Maplewood Cemetery, Geneva, Ohio. Memorial contributions may be made to the Hospice of the Western Reserve, 300 East 185th St., Cleveland, OH 44119.