Doris Burcham

Doris Julia (Powell) Burcham, 98, of Atlantic, Iowa, passed away Saturday, January 5, 2013, at the Heritage House in Atlantic.

Doris was born to Marilda Ann Holley Powell and Oliver Preston Powell on July 2, 1914, on a farm near Orson in Harrison County, Iowa. She grew up in Mondamin, Iowa, and graduated from Mondamin High School in l931. She attended Morningside College for a year and then taught country school near Mondamin.

In 1936, Doris married Robert U. (Burch) Burcham and they farmed southwest of Mondamin until his death in 1979. She was a long time member of the Mondamin Methodist Church. She enjoyed family, friends, fishing and traveling. She wintered in Florida until in her 90s when she moved to Atlantic to be close to family. Doris lived fiercely independently until 2012.

Doris was preceded in death by her husband, Robert (Burch) Burcham; parents, "Rilla" and "Press" Powell; brothers, Paul and Oliver Powell; sisters, Hazel Nuzum and Lois McWilliams; grandchild, Preston Burcham; niece, Jodi Light; and many other relatives and friends.

Surviving Doris are her children, Kay Ponder and her companion Thomas Mitsunaga of New Smyrna Beach, FL, Bob Burcham and his wife Dee Burcham of Atlantic, IA; sisters, Eunice Blackwell of Atlantic, IA and Alta Light of Kansas City, MO; grandchildren, Dr. Ken Ponder and wife Sarah Ponder, Dr. Elizabeth McGraw and husband Dr. Peter McGraw, Alisa Navrkal and husband Marty Burke; great-grandchildren, Zoe Burcham Templeman and husband Justen, Jesse Laughlin, Harmony Nelson, Cassandra Burcham, Aura Nelson, Damon Navrkal, Claire Ponder, Ben McGraw, Andrew McGraw, Olivia Burke, Dillon Burke; great-great-grandchildren, Skylar Preston Burcham, Eden Faith Templeman; special family friends, Connie Jones and Robert Cook; and many other relatives and friends.


A private grave side service was held at the Magnolia Cemetery in Magnolia, IA. A memorial service is to be held on June 8th in Mondamin, IA.

Memorials may be made to the Mondamin Methodist Church or a charity of the donor's choice.

Hockenberry Family Care in Atlantic, Iowa, is in charge of the arrangements.