Arthur Jay Burch

     Arthur "Art" Jay Burch, age 82, of Ithaca, MI, passed away Tuesday, October 7, 2025, at MyMichigan Medical Center, Alma, MI.
     Funeral Services will be held at Smith Family Funeral Homes Ithaca, MI, at 1:00 P.M. on Friday, October 10, 2025. Visitation will be held on Friday, October 10, 2025, from 11:00 A.M. until the time of the service at the funeral home. Burial will take place at Ithaca Cemetery at a later date.
     Arthur was born in North Star, Michigan on February 9, 1943, the son of Frank and Goldie (Wood) Burch. He graduated from Ithaca High School, with the class of 1961. Art married Kathy Bare on April 6, 1963, at the Ithaca Presbyterian Church. He was a wonderful husband and was faithfully devoted to Kathy. Art retired to take care of Kathy full time when she became ill and she passed away on June 10, 2008.
     Art owned and operated Crossroads Real Estate for many years working primarily in Gratiot County and surrounding areas. He was a Scoutmaster for Ithaca Troop 431 from 1971-1979. In younger years, he enjoyed camping, canoeing and snowmobiling. Art will be remembered for his Christmas village "Burchville" that he set up every year on his front porch. It took him days to set up and he enjoyed the visitors who came to admire it. Art cherished the time spent with his great-grandsons.
     He is survived by his son Tony Burch; one granddaughter Kristen and Josh Fortine; his great-grandsons: Kenyon, Gauge, and Finley Fortine; his siblings: Sally Martin, Jerry Martin, Daun and David Longanbach, Don and Sherida Burch, Betty Reeves, and Helen Hoard; mother-in-law Jean Bare and sisters-in-law: Carol Vernon and Millie and Mike Space. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, siblings: Jack, Glenn, Larry, Virginia, and Nancy.
     Memorials may be made to Thompson Home Public Library Ithaca, MI. Online condolences can be sent to www.smithfamilyfuneralhomes.com. The family is being served by Smith Family Funeral Homes, Ithaca, Michigan.