John D Burright
BURRIGHT MCKINLAY NANNEN
Posted By: Connie Swearingen (email)
Date: 4/19/2010 at 21:09:51
Woodbury County History 1984
John D ‘Jack’ Burright
John D ‘Jack’ Burright, the youngest of seven children of John B and Gertrude McKinlay Burright, was born August 19, 1932, at Rock Rapids, Iowa. He was reared on a farm four miles east of Rock Rapids. In 1949, he graduated from Rock Rapids High School as a valedictorian of his class.
A year later he enrolled in Iowa State University in the field of Agricultural Education. While attending college he met Nnacy Nannen, older daughter of Ben and Shirley Nannen of Pierson, Iowa, who he later married.
Jack graduated form Iowa State University in 1954 and enlisted in the Air Force. He was stationed at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas, as a teacher in the basic training program.
Nancy graduated from Iowa State University in 1955 with a degree in Home Economics. On June 15, 1955, she and Jdack were married at the Pierson, Christian Church. They returned to Texas, where Jack was awarded a commission as a 2nd Lieutenant, then to Chanute Field, Champaign, Illinois, for the remainder of his tour.
Following Jack’s discharge in July 1956, they moved to a farm ˝ mile south of Pierson to assist Nancy’s father with his farming operation. They began their own farming operation from this location and have farmed continuously to the present time. In 1962 as the profit in farming became slim, Jack took a position as a Junior High teacher of Math and Science at Bronson Community School. In 1964, he went to Willow Community School, Washta-Quimby, Iowa, where he taught sixth, seventh and eighth grade Math for eight years. In 1972 he resigned to return to full-time farming.
At Pierson, they became active in church and community activities. Few positions of leadership in the church have not been filled at some time by either Jack or Nancy. Nancy has been a 4H leader for 27 years, serves on the 4H sub-committee, has been chairman of the Home Economics Department at the fair, served on the Woodbury County Fair Board for 14 years, was Secretary of the Woodbury County Farm Bureau Women and for 15 years has been uniform chairman for the K-P Junior High School Band. She is presently serving as a trustee fo the Northwest Regional Library System. She was selected as a State 4H Alumni winner in 1980 and in 1981 was named by Wallace’s Farmer magazine as one of its Master Farm Homemakers.
Jack has served on Farm Bureau Boards, Extension Councils, 4H and Youth Committees and as a 4H leader as well as being involved in district and state church work. He has been a member of both Pierson Consolidated and Kingsley-Pierson School Boards and at present is President of the Band and Chorus Booster Club. Jack is Past Master of Rutland Lodge and has served many years as secretary of the lodge and a member of the Kingsley Rainbow Advisory Board. He is also a 32 degree Mason in the Sioux City Consistory. In 1980 Jack was named a State Honorary 4H member. Jack and Nancy are currently Secretary-Managers of the Woodbury County Fair.
Jack and Nancy have four children: Beth Jean, born March 3, 1958; John Ben, born December 22, 1960; Janette Sue, born August 14, 1962; and Blaine Paul, born September 2, 1965.
At the children grew up they became active in church, school and 4H activities. All of them are, or have been members of the Pierson Christian Church and have been active in the youth groups and served as junior deacons or deaconesses. Their interest has led them to become involved in the work of the Christian Church on a state level on committees and attendance at many camps. John has served on the Regional Church Board and in 1981 was elected to the General (National) Board of the Christian Church. All have been local 4H Club officers and all have served on county and area councils.
All four children attended Kingsley-Pierson Schools. Beth graduated in 1976, John in 1979, Janette as valedictorian in 1980 and Blaine in 1984.
The three oldest have attended Iowa State University. Beth graduated in 1980 with a degree in Child Development and is presently teaching pre-school special education in Marshalltown, Iowa. John is a senior in Art Education, and Janette is a senior in Chemical Engineering and working alternate semesters with Dow Chemical Company, Midland, Michigan.
On April 24, 1982, Beth was married to Frank Everett in Marshalltown, Iowa.
Woodbury Biographies maintained by Greg Brown.
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