John Clarence Burchfield

John Clarence Burchfield died in Perrysburg, OH on Friday, July 13, 2018. Originally from Holland, Ohio, John graduated from Holland High School, and then attended Michigan State University where in 1957 he received his Bachelor’s Degree in Agriculture. During his final year of college, he met the love of his life, the woman who would become his wife of 60 years, Janice (Schad). In 1958, after John completed Basic Training with the U. S. Army, John and Jan married then moved to San Antonio, Texas, where John trained as an Army Medic at Fort Sam Houston. Following his training, he and Jan returned to Holland where John farmed with his father for two years while he attended pre-med classes at The University of Toledo. He was accepted into medical school at The Ohio State University and graduated in 1965. He subsequently completed an internship and residency training in Anesthesiology at The Toledo Hospital in 1968 then returned to Columbus to join the faculty at OSU where he served from 1968-1978. In 1978, John and his family moved to Sylvania, Ohio, where John practiced Anesthesiology at Flower Hospital, The Toledo Clinic and St. Luke’s Hospital. Shortly before John retired from his medical practice, John and Jan moved back to the Burchfield Family Farm (est. 1834) in Holland. John had many, eclectic interests. He enjoyed ice cream, restoring and collecting early American clocks and lighting pieces, bicycles, and cars; ice cream cones; mowing and working on the family farm; pie a la mode; trips to Glen Arbor, Michigan with his wife and family; peppermints; going to the Toledo Zoo; “Tin Roof” ice cream sundaes; genealogy; pizza; listening to band music, particularly John Phillips Sousa marches, and music from movie musicals. John was MSU’s #1 fan, and frequently attended football and basketball games in East Lansing with Jan (MSU’s #2 fan). John loved dogs, family, friends, plaid shirts and khaki pants—frequently topping off his ensemble with an MSU hat and MSU sweatshirt. In his later years, John was initially diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, and, later, Lewy Body Dementia. He was as positive and as tough as they come, and he slowed down the disease progression with frequent workouts with a trainer, and his positive attitude. His “can-do” approach and faith allowed him to find joy throughout his life. John used to tell his children when they were growing up, “When the going gets tough, the tough get going.” John will be missed by his family and friends. John is survived by his wife, Jan, their son, John II (Mary); daughter, Brenda (Allen) Kinzer; and six grandchildren: John III, Michael, and Elisabeth Burchfield, and Adah, Leah, and Anna Kinzer. John is preceded in death by his mother, Anna Evelyn (Farnsworth) Burchfield; baby brother, Clarence Donovan Burchfield; father, Clarence Donovan Burchfield; step-mother, Anna (St. John) Burchfield; and his sister, Joan Burchfield Webster. The Burchfield family would like to thank the many friends, health care aides, and people who visited and helped care for John during his illness. We are especially grateful for the loving care provided to him and Jan, by Rhonda May Houston. The visitation will be held Friday, July 20 from 10am-1pm at Maumee Valley Church, 8715 Garden Rd., Maumee, OH. The funeral will be held Friday, July 20 at 4pm at Maumee Valley Church, 8715 Garden Rd., Maumee, Ohio. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a contribution to The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research or to the C.D. Burchfield Endowment for Agriculture and Natural Resources at Michigan State University. Arrangements by Maison-Dardenne-Walker Funeral Home, Maumee, OH. Online condolences may be shared at walkerfuneralhomes.com