BOONE, Iowa—On Friday, August 15, 2025, in Ogden, Iowa, Charles R. Burbach, age 81, went home to the Lord with his daughters by his side and the loving staff of Accura Healthcare of Ogden and Suncrest Hospice guiding his way.
Charles “Chuck” R. Burbach was born on October 25, 1943, in Hartington, Nebraska, to Arthur and Gertrude (Wieseler) Burbach. He was welcomed into a family with many loving brothers and sisters. In 1965, he married his high school sweetheart Mary Leonilla Werve. Together they raised their family of three daughters in Washington, Iowa, and later moved to Phoenix, Arizona, then to Columbia, Missouri. Chuck supported his family as a construction worker, funeral director, and non-profit manager.
Chuck and Mary moved to North Carolina in 2000, where Chuck started his own ceramic tile business, combining his profession with his creative gifts. He was a self-made craftsman using his hands and his heart and a piece of wood to build bunk beds for his young girls, custom shelves for treasured keepsakes and craft tables for his grandchildren and the casket Mary would need in 2006.
In 2020, Chuck moved back to the Midwest to be near his daughter Nancy and her family in Boone, Iowa. Chuck loved to be silly with his grandkids and great-grandkids. He had a gentle and gracious spirit and always wanted to know your name and a piece of your story.
He was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 41 years, Mary (2006); his parents, Art and Gert Burbach; sisters, Della Bruns, Romaine Murphy, Karen Chapman and Mary Burbach; brothers, Don Burbach, Jerry Burbach, Art Burbach and Gene Burbach; sisters-in-law; Joyce Burbach and Sally Burbach; brothers-in-law, Al Bruns, Jack Murphy, John Dziedzic, Denny Chapman, Nick Werve, Rich Myers and Jim Corcoran; son-in-law, Cleve Small.
Chuck is survived by three daughters, Kristy (Pat) Dolwick of Apex, NC, Shelly Small (Rob Dietrick) of Wilmington, NC, and Nancy (David) Alexander of Boone; eight grandchildren, Alex (Tiffany) Dolwick of Chapel Hill, NC, Madeline (Charles) Gillikin of Swansboro, NC, Gracie (Stephen) Wiley of Asheboro, NC, Isaac Miconi of Siler City, NC, Thomas Alexander of Ames, IA, Brigitte (Andrew) Niedermann of Ogden, Molly Alexander of Boone, and Elsie Alexander of Boone; five great-grandchildren, Theodore, Athena, Calypso, Seraphina and Baby Wiley; sister, Claudia (Dean) Hesselgesser of Omaha, NE; brother, Richard Burbach (Russ Stephens) of Minneapolis, MN; sisters-in-law, Marilyn Burbach, Vicki Werve, Tricia Myers, Martha Kiefer, Theresa Corcoran and Colleen (David) Mortensen; many nieces and nephews and Bobby Lane, the kindest roommate you could ask for in your last home on earth.
In lieu of flowers and gifts, Chuck’s daughters wish for donations to be sent to the Chuck Burbach Memorial Residents Fund, Accura Healthcare of Ogden, 625 East Oak Street, Ogden, Iowa, 50212. Attention: Judy
A Memorial Mass will be held Tuesday, October 21, 2025, at 10:00 am at the Church of the Sacred Heart, 915 12th Street, Boone, with Rev. Timothy Johnson officiating. Immediately following the service, everyone is invited to a luncheon and a time to share memories of Chuck in the Fitzgerald Hall at Sacred Heart Church. A private family inurnment will be held at St. Ann’s Cemetery, Vail, Iowa, following the luncheon.
The family asks for everyone to wear a shade of blue to the Mass, in honor of Chuck’s favorite color.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Schroeder-Reimers Memorial Chapel at Sixth and Marshall Streets in Boone. Online condolences may be left to Chuck’s family www.schroedermemorialchapel.com
Charles “Chuck” Burbach, 81, Boone, Iowa
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