Charles O. “Chuck” Burcham

Chuck was born March 1, 1932, in Lansing, to Beulah Mae (Ritter) and Osmand S. Burcham. He grew up and attended school in Lansing.

He quit high school and joined the Air Force. After completing Basic Training in Colorado, he was stationed in London, England, and then served in the Korean War as a tail gunner in a B29 bomber. When his plane was shot down over the ocean, Chuck’s left leg was injured with only the tendons holding it together. The crew escaped in life rafts, and he floated in the ocean for 11 days before being picked up by a freighter. He was kept alive by his teammates, who were able to apply a tourniquet, tightening and releasing it to help save his leg.

He received the Purple Heart and other medals for his service in the Korean war. After he recovered and was discharged, he went to work for Oldsmobile in Lansing. One of Chuck’s proudest moments was when General MacArthur came to the plant to give a speech and called him up on the stage. MacArthur recalled the incident without Chuck saying anything and introduced him to Mrs. MacArthur and the crowd.

Chuck stayed in lower Michigan for many years. He also worked for the fire department of a small suburb of Lansing until they were incorporated into the city and most of the personnel were let go. He began selling real estate, where he won many trophies and awards for his work, but he eventually had to give it up for health reasons.

He then moved to Channing in Upper Michigan, where he had gone hunting every year and where his wife had family. He was self-employed for awhile, drilling wells. He then went to work for Lakeshore Engineering until they closed. After that he worked for NorthStar in maintenance and patient driver. He also became a coach driver for the Local Tour Companies: Yorkshire Tours, Judy’s Getaway Tours and, lastly, Pellegrini’s Tours.

Chuck loved motorcycles and owned several before he moved to the U.P. He loved the woods and did a lot of hunting and fishing. He became very familiar with the lakes, rivers and trails in the middle U.P.

Chuck was married four times in his life. His first marriage was to Marylin, and they had one son named Daniel. The second was to Betty, whom he married in England. They had two children: Linda and Gary of lower Michigan. The third marriage was to Deanna; they had three children: Pam and Val of Georgia, and Greg of Florida. These marriages ended in divorce.

His fourth marriage was to Qweeny Loraine Munn. She had seven children: Tonya, Mary, Grover, Irene, Becky, Steven and Debra. Her husband was killed in an accident when she was pregnant for Debra. They married soon after and raised the children. She died of Cancer in 2008. Chuck also has a daughter Pat who was put up for adoption at birth. When she became an adult, she researched her birth parents, contacted Chuck, and they developed a father/daughter relationship.

His last love relationship was a domestic partnership with Gwen Gilbert that began in October 2009 and lasted until his passing. They lived in Iron Mountain until July 2016, when they moved to Niagara.

Chuck is survived by his “Life Partner,” Gwen Gilbert; his brother, Robert Burcham of Lansing; all his children and stepchildren; and many, many grandchildren and great-grandchildren; his partner’s daughter, Deby Johnson; and all of Gwen’s grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents: Beulah and Osmand; his fourth wife: Qweeny; two sisters: Violet and Wanita; two granddaughters: Melanie and Vicky; and Gwen’s son Martin Johnson.

Chuck had many friends and acquaintances and enjoyed chatting when he would run into them in a store or at the VA. He could be a grumpy old man at times, but he had a heart of gold. Chuck will be greatly missed by many.

In regard for Chuck’s wishes, there was no funeral, or services or celebration of life. He was cremated and will be buried in the Quinnesec Cemetery.

Condolences to the family of Charles Burcham may be expressed online at www.ernashfuneralhomes.com.

The family has entrusted the Erickson-Rochon & Nash Funeral Home of Iron Mountain with the funeral arrangements.