Preceded by cherished parents Henry and Muriel Enberg; survived by beloved and loving husband, Richard M Burkhart, as well as many dear nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

Monika’s love for visual and theater arts shaped her life journey. In addition to her career as a graphic artist, she created The Luminescent Paintbox (see web address below) for selling her photographic wall decor through on-line retailers. Together, Monika and Richard have co-produced (see web address below) a Youtube channel featuring sequenced Historic Civil War Dance Music along with Fashion Plates of the period.

An early accomplished dancer and theater production participant, Monika also turned her creative mind to the written word - and is a published lyricist, poet, and author.

As an avid historian, Monika’s extensive Civil War research highlighted another talent - playwright. The completion of her musical showcased the diversity of her many talents, spanning from original and compelling musical scores, her melodically spoken narration, crisp layout design and attention to details both in accuracy of research and in visual composition, fascination with period dress and costuming.

Her many original creations gave insight to her vast talents: Monika had the eye of a professional photographer, the ear of a composer, the heart of a poet. Multi-talented and also multi-layered, she harmoniously embodied those characteristics: Monika looked beneath the surface and found the good in others, listened with an accepting and open mind, gave of herself to others with an open heart.

Monika is known to her family through her soft and soothing voice, her wonderful sense of humor, her thoughtfulness, steadfast support, and compassion, her reserved, quiet nature and independence, her deep love and care for those around her, and most especially for the strength of her bond with her soulmate, Richard.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions preferred to Missouri Humane Society or specify the Research and Library branch of the Missouri Historical Society (see links below).