Agnes Ann Burch

With a beautiful smile, generous heart, and incredible sense of humor, Agnes Ann Burch lived a life rich in faith, family, and friends. Agnes was whip-smart, naturally funny, and possessed an inspiring inner determination and strength. She embraced each day as a gift and welcomed every person as a friend. In Agnes' good company, hardships were always surmountable, and joys increased. The proud matriarch of her family, Agnes held the role with honor and was the glue that kept them together. A devoted wife, mother, grandmother, nurse, and friend, Agnes will long be remembered and deeply missed by those she so dearly loved and graciously served.

Despite the obvious gloom of the Great Depression,1930 beheld a power of hope that undulated in the hearts of many. With a natural drive to not just endure but thrive in the face of uncertainty, the nation continued to put one foot in front of the other to build a better future. Nowhere was there a greater sense of hope than in the hearts and home of Fred and Frances (Smith) Millard as they celebrated their daughter Agnes Ann's sunrise on August 9 in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

An only child, Agnes sought out and maintained lifelong friendships. Her friends were family. Growing up on the near northeast side of Grand Rapids during the Depression years, she and her parents were members of St. Alphonsus Catholic Church, where she also attended grade school. After graduating from Mt. Mercy High School, where she made many forever friends, Agnes continued her education at Mercy Central School of Nursing, where she became a Registered Nurse.

For many years, Agnes worked at St. Mary's Hospital, spending most of those years in labor and delivery. She worked predominantly third shift, allowing her to be home when her children were awake. Later in her career, she worked as the Nurse Supervisor at Villa Elizabeth until her retirement. Like most nurses, even after retiring, she remained a nurse; it was who she was. Her keen observations, expert skills, and unwavering commitment to the care of others always combined with her ability to maintain her cool in the face of chaos. When it came to injuries, that coolness never waivered, and she was often heard saying "It's not life threatening" as a reassurance.

Agnes met her future husband, Robert Burch, while they were each on a date with someone else. She knew that night that he was the one for her, and they soon set up their first date. On May 17, 1952, the happy couple married at St. Alphonsus and celebrated their nuptials with a honeymoon to Croton Hardy on the Muskegon River.

After marrying, Agnes and Bob moved to their home on the NorthEast side of Grand Rapids; it would remain her home for the rest of her life. Fortunately, Agnes never required much sleep as, over twenty years, her family grew to include nine children. Agnes ran the house, which was always neat. She did her best to keep family and career in balance, working faithfully to support her family, acknowledging that even in the busyness of the family she steadily worked, never missing a paycheck. She made sure her kids learned the responsibility of chores while also ensuring there was lots of time for fun.

Agnes remained forever in love with Bob, proud to be on his arm wherever life took them. They complimented each other perfectly with his dreams and her drive. They were a social couple and enjoyed many friends and activities. They entertained often at their house and attended many parties for friends. For decades, Agnes and Bob had a pool that proved a welcome place for family and friends to gather, laugh, and make memories. This would extend to grandchildren in later years. They also enjoyed traveling and attending the Grand Rapids Symphony, the opera, and the theater. Agnes and Bob enjoyed traveling as a couple, exploring five continents and over fifty countries, and Agnes loved to follow Bob on the dance floor as well.

The family enjoyed a lot of traveling together. Whether tent camping, camping in the motorhomes Agnes named "Will-O-B", at Grand Haven or Hoffmaster State Parks, or traveling throughout the U.S., the family made wonderful memories. Full family trips were always treasured times. There was a big trip to Mexico in 1975 as well as several to Florida where the family would take time to visit with Agnes and Bob.

A natural leader, Agnes was never afraid to assume leadership roles or responsibilities. She served as an officer during high school and was an active member of the Blessed Sacrament Guild and Women's City Club. She served as President of the Ladies Literary Club where she was able to share her love of art and literature. This gave her an outlet for her creativity and love for all things pretty. Additionally, she was a well-liked room mother for every child, Den mother for the boys' scouting, area captain for March of Dimes, and gave polio shots at the local schools.

Though Agnes had a full and adventurous life, it was not without sadness and hardship. Agnes lost her son Tom in 1989, the love of her life, Bob, in 1992, and grandson, David, in 2017. Strong and independent, Agnes pushed on with much support from family and her dear friends. As the family grew with grandkids, she loved to be involved. From watching them at the pool to enjoying conversations and lots of laughs to discussing sports, including the Tigers and Pistons, Agnes relished every moment she shared with them. A true love was "footyball", and watching the Lions games with her family was a highlight. As she grew older, Agnes continued to enjoy time with family and friends, traveling, and staying busy. She stayed connected to others and embraced using technology to do so, calling her cell phone her "machine". She loved Facebook and was always interested in how many likes and comments she could draw.

Sharp as a tack until her sunset on May 16, 2025, Agnes leaves a legacy of love, laughter, perseverance, steadfast companionship, and much joy for her loved ones to proudly carry forward. In each moment we confidently face life's hardships, relish its joys, cheer on our loved ones' endeavors, offer our gifts in service of others, and explore the world or hit the dance floor with our beloved, we celebrate the countless ways Agnes made the world a better place. In this way, we keep her memory alive and inspire others as she so inspired each of us.

Agnes was preceded in death by her husband, Robert, in 1992; her son, Thomas; and her grandson, David Burch.

Agnes is survived by her children Martin Burch (Marty Phelps), Steven & Anneke Burch, Richard & Kathleen Burch, Kathlynne & Eric Rodewald, Theresa Paauwe, Jane O'Hara, Mary & Alan Mattson, Susan & Greg Kestler; grandchildren Abby & Michael Crisci, Katie & Nate Golomb, Annie & Kyle Coe, Rachelle & Jason Woodard, Liz Burch, Jackie Burch, Michael & Lauren Rodewald, Andrew & Samantha Rodewald, Adam Noffsinger, Emily Noffsinger, McKenna Mattson & Matthew Grudzinskas, Nolan Mattson, Alex Rosmarin, Champ Rosmarin, Tommy Rosmarin; and fifteen great-grandchildren.

The service to remember and celebrate her wonderful life will be held on Sunday, June 1, at 2 PM at Heritage Life Story Funeral Home - Van Strien Creston Chapel, 1833 Plainfield Ave NE. Friends are encouraged to visit with her family beginning at Noon. Those walking down Diamond Avenue can attest that Agnes often had 88.9 FM blaring on the radio. She said "Music saved my life! It made me happy," In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Blue Lake Public Radio (88.9 FM) (bluelake.org; 300 East Crystal Lake Road, Twin Lake MI 49457) To read more about Agnes, to share a favorite memory or photo, or to sign her guestbook, visit www.heritagelifestory.com