Robert Burchett Osceola

Robert Adrian Burchett, 91, of Osceola, formerly of Grand River, died Monday, Oct. 19, 2015, at the Clarke County Hospital in Osceola.

Funeral services were held 10:30 a.m. Friday, Oct. 23, at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Grand River with the Rev. Thomas Dooley officiating. Burial was in the Grand River Cemetery. Memorials may be left to the Grand River Community Center in Bob’s memory.

Robert Adrian Burchett, son of Roy Achilles and Merle Eulala (Crees) Burchett, was born Aug. 19, 1924, in Clarke County. Bob graduated from Grand River High School in 1941, at age 16. He entered the United States Army on July 7, 1943, serving in the Army Air Corp flying in a B26 in 9th Air Force and the 394th Bomber Group. After his honorable discharge on Nov. 24, 1945, he came back to Iowa and farmed.

On Nov. 1, 1947, Bob married Kathleen “Kate” Amelia McGraw in St. Brendan’s Catholic Church Rectory in Leon. They made their home on a farm in Clarke County.

Bob worked for the United States Postal Service as a rural mail carrier for 35 years and retired in 1995. In November of 1996, he and Kate moved from the farm to Osceola. During their retirement, they traveled the United States and Europe. Bob was a member of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, the Charles Ladd American Legion and the VFW.

After Kate’s death on May 16, 2013, Bob moved into Homestead Assisted Living in Osceola. He lived at Clarke County Hospital’s Extended Care for the last six months of his life.

Bob is survived by his daughter Lynda Burchett and husband Patrick Robertson of Houston, Texas; sister-in-law, Ramadean (Joe) Shields of Grand River; friends Ron and JoAnn Boles and family of Grand River; numerous nieces and nephews; other relatives and many friends. Bob and Kate were active grandparents to the Boles’ children, Alan and Jenni and great-grandparents to their children.

Bob was preceded in death by his parents; wife Kate and brother Edwin (Carmaleta) Burchett.