Mary Jane Leona (Manders) Burcham – formerly of Earlville

Mary Jane Leona (Manders) Burcham, 82, formerly of Earlville, Iowa, passed away peacefully surrounded by her family Sunday, July 21, 2024, at Jackson Ridge Healthcare Center in Maquoketa, Iowa. 

Celebration of Life: 4 -7 p.m. Wednesday, July 24, 2024, Clifton-Murdoch Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Earlville, Iowa. 

Mary Jane was born May 2, 1942, in Dubuque, Iowa, the daughter of Joseph and Christina (Herbst) Manders. She served as a waitress for IHOP in Lawton, Oklahoma, for over 20 years. She was a member of St. Joseph Parish in Earlville. Mary Jane enjoyed crossword puzzles, jigsaw puzzles, poker, and Bingo. 

Survivors include her children, Scott Knockel of Freedom, Indiana, Vickey (Darrell) Gilbert of Granbury, Texas, Lynn Knockel of Texas, Christina Gilman of Moore, Oklahoma, and Tom (Tina) Burcham Jr., of Earlville; grandchildren, Jennifer (David) Garrett, Danielle Terry, Jessie Carbajal, Amanda (Rueben) Martinez, Alejandra Alvarez, Terra (James) Olsen, and Shea Burcham (Tyreese Crippen); great-grandchildren, Levi (Kaela) Gilbert-Garrett, Kate and Cole Kidd, Kenzi, Haden, and Preston Martinez; and siblings, Vincent Manders of Dubuque, Arlene Kohn of Maquoketa, Darlene Klosterman of Earlville, Luella Lueken, and Margie Steger, both of Colesburg, Iowa. She was preceded in death by her parents, Joseph and Christina Manders; grandson, Jay Gilbert; and siblings, Jerome Manders, Delbert Manders, Norman Manders, Shirley Theisen, Harold Manders, and George Manders.

The family would like to thank Melissa and the staff at Jackson County Hospice, and Karen, Holly W. and Libby at Jackson Ridge. Memorials may be directed to Hospice of Jackson County, 611 W. Quarry Street, Maquoketa, Iowa 52060. Please share a memory of Mary Jane at www.murdochfuneralhome.com under obituaries.