Andrew James Burch Obituary

Andrew James “Jim” Burch, 81, of St. Joseph passed away Sunday, June 28, 2026.

A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, July 1, 2026, at Starks & Menchinger Chapel, 2650 Niles Road, St. Joseph, followed by a graveside service at Temple Beth-El cemetery in Benton Harbor with Military Rites conducted by the Stevensville American Legion Post #568. Friends and family are also invited to celebrate a life well lived from 1-4 p.m. at The St. Joseph-Benton Harbor Elks Club in Benton Harbor.

Andy was born January 10, 1945, in Traverse City, Michigan, to Glessnor Burch and Josephine Burch (neé Sleder). Andy was a proud 1963 graduate of Traverse City High School where he excelled on the football field and was a valuable “enforcer” on the hockey rink. He enlisted in the Navy upon graduation and served in the early years of the Vietnam conflict before returning to the US and attending Ferris State College (as it was known then) on the GI Bill. At Ferris State, Andy played football, but most importantly, met the love of his life, Cynthia Gelder of Benton Harbor. They got married as undergraduates in 1968 and moved to Detroit shortly thereafter, where Andy began work as a surveyor while attending night classes at the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law. Andy moved to Southwest Michigan in the mid-1970s and began a distinguished career practicing law in the area that lasted over 40 years.

Andy was an avid golfer, accomplished woodworker, poet, musician, and handyman. He loved to fish and mow his lawn more than it needed to be mowed. He considered the t-shirt to be the highest form of expression and he collected millions of them.

He and Cindy were married for 58 years and enjoyed nothing more than spending time with each other and their family. Andy particularly cherished his time with his 8 grandchildren - Amalia, Oren, Zeke, Aviva, Dane, Ella, Ziva, and Gideon. He is survived by his wife, Cynthia, and children and children-in-law, Micah (Natalie), Joshua (Rebecca), and Miriam (Rob). He is preceded in death by his parents Glessnor and Josephine, and siblings John and Jane.

If you wish to honor Andy’s life and legacy with a donation, please consider supporting Hanson Hospice Care, The Innocence Project, or the Veterans of Foreign Wars. Those wishing to sign Andy’s Memory Book online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com.