Memorial Service for James V. Burchfield, 83, of Dawson and the Panora area will be 11 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 16 at the Faith Bible Church in Panora.
Rev. Trevor Nunn will officiate the service, with Merlin and Jonetta Long as the musicians. Musical selections will be “Life’s Railroad to Heaven,” “Hymn of Praise” and “The Dance” by Garth Brooks.
Pallbearers will be Tim Schuhardt and Kyle Harding. Honorary Pallbearers will be Tom Wilkerson, Ron Perrigo, Derry Pitsenbarger, Randy Schuhardt, Amos Royer, Jim Thompson, Brent Cabelka, Robert Taylor and Don Durbin. Ushers will be Bob DeHaan and Roger Burchfield. Burial will be at a later date.
James passed away Saturday, Nov. 12, 2016, at the Guthrie County Hospital in Guthrie Center, Iowa.
James Victor Burchfield was born Nov. 5, 1933. The son of Albert Victor and Margaret Annetta (Wade) Burchfield, he was born on the family farm in Lincoln Township in rural Dallas County, Iowa.
Jim attended a one-room schoolhouse for eight years. He graduated high school from the Washington Township Consolidated School in 1951.
After high school, he worked for the Milwaukee Railroad until he was drafted into the Korean War in 1953. While spending time in France, Jim enjoyed eating a hotdog on the top of the Eiffel Tower.
After returning home, he began farming with his dad and started a milking herd with five cows and grew it to a herd of 30 registered Holsteins. Jim never missed a milking in 29 years after 30 some years of being in the dairy business.
In 1960 Jim was chosen “Young Farmer of the Year” by the Perry Jaycees. He was a fine steward of the land, always trying to make a piece of land better after he started farming it than he found.
Jim served on the Board of Washington Township School for many years.
Jim was united in marriage to Mava Clouse Jan. 5, 1958, in Panora. In October 1960, they lost their infant son, James V. Jr. In 1965 they adopted their son, William James, from the Annie Wittenmyer Home in Davenport.
After Bill grew up, he started farming with his dad, living just down the road from the home place. Jim enjoyed going to Bill’s shop and working on machinery. After retirement, Jim and Mava took several “great” trips to see the U.S. with Ron and Shirley Perrigo.
Jim was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Lowell; and infant son, James Jr.
Jim leaves his wife, Mava of Panora; one son, Bill, and friend, Evelyn, of rural Perry; and two step-grandchildren, Travis and Preston Merical.
Memorials will be directed to the Faith Bible Church or the Washington Township School and may be left or mailed to Murdock Funeral Home, 1420 Warford St., Perry, IA 50220.
