BURCHETTE, Edward Joseph 1910-1989

BURCHETTE, CAMERON, STECKEL, MORRISON, MCGRIFF

Posted By: slm
Date: 12/9/2012 at 21:50:39

Fairfield Ledger (Ia.)
Monday, April 3, 1989

Burchette, ex-banker, lover of the arts, dies

Edward Joseph Burchette, 78, who had lived in Farfield since September to be near his daughter, Nan Cameron, died Saturday, April 1, 1989, at Jefferson County Hospital of a respiratory ailment.

The body was cremated and a private family service will be held at a later date. Raymond Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Memorials have been established to the Des Moines Art Center; to Bloomfield Fund for Community Development in care of Nancy Logan, Davis County Savings Bank, Bloomfield, 52537; and the Leapfrog Sculpture Fund.

Burchette was born Nov. 26, 1910, in Bloomfield, the son of Harry and Irene McGriff Burchette. He studied drama at University of Iowa for two years before heading to California and a brief Hollywood career in 1930. He became friends with Bing Crosby and Jack Benny, dated Jean Harlow and Clara Bow.

He directed little theater in Waco, Texas, then lived for two years in New York City, where he knew many of the actors, writers, poets and artists of the era, including Edna St. Vincent Millay, Robert Frost and Carl Sandburg. He spent a summer with Grant Wood's group at Stone City.

He returned to Bloomfield in 1935 and opened and antique shop. In December 1935 he married Josephine Steckel of Bloomfield, became active in her family's bank and upon the death of his father-in-law in 1940, became president of the Exchange Bank, a position he held until his son succeeded him in the 1970s.

In Bloomfield, he had served as president of the school board, county hospital board, telephone company and chamber of commerce. During World War II, he established a manufacturing company, Nockonwood Industries, to provide employment for families of servicemen. The company made weather houses, baby furniture and novelty items from Burchette's designs.

Josephine Buchette died in 1951. In 1954 he married Lucille Morrison of Des Moines and became president and then chairman of the board of Valley Bank, later Valley National Bank. He was president of the Edmundson Foundation of the Des Moines Art Center, and of the Greater Des Moines Committee, and served on many boards, including Drake University and the National Conference of Christians and Jews.

Burchette was known for impeccable taste, a love and vast knowledge of beautiful things and fine craftsmanship, and for his interest in and encouragement of many talented and deserving young people in a variety of fields.

Since an incapacitating illness in 1980, he had rediscovered such hobbies as painting and writing.

In addition to his daughter, he is survived by a son, Peter Steckel of Boulder City, Nev.; five grandchildren; and four great-granddaughters. His wife, and infant brother and a brother, Robert McGriff, preceded him in death.

(Volunteer transcription. I am of no relation.)