ESTHERVILLE — Connor John Burch, 4, of Estherville, died Saturday, August 22, 2026, at Avera Holy Family Hospital in Estherville.
A celebration of Connor’s life will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, August 27, at Forest City United Methodist Church, 305 South Clark Street.
Visitation will be held at the church from 9:30 a.m. until the service begins.
Connor was born October 8, 2021, and brought an immeasurable amount of light, love, laughter and energy into the lives of those who knew him.
He could be sweet and shy, but he was always full of energy and ready to be wherever something was happening. His infectious giggle and joyful personality brightened the lives of those around him.
Connor loved anything with wheels. Trucks, cars, tractors and diggers were among his favorite things.
He enjoyed riding his Gator, fishing, mowing, watching tractor videos and helping with projects around the house.
Connor especially enjoyed playing games with his family. He won at UNO most of the time and seemed nearly unbeatable at Memory Match.
When he was not rolling trucks around the house, he could often be found following his mother from room to room and helping with laundry, cooking and other household activities.
Connor had a tender heart and a special love for dogs, cats and babies. He enjoyed playing with his cousins and daycare friends and treasured time with his family.
He and his sister, Emily, shared a close sibling relationship that could change from fighting to playing in an instant. One of Emily’s favorite memories was playing tag with Connor and giving him candy whenever he caught her.
Connor loved mowing and fishing with his father, playing cards with his family and helping his mother around the home.
He had his mother’s blue eyes and his father’s smile and cowlick, but his family said he was completely and wonderfully his own person.
Connor did not like being called handsome and would insist, “I’m not handsome, I’m Connor!” He did, however, approve of being called cute.
He attended Vacation Bible School with his cousins in recent years. His family finds comfort in knowing that Connor was deeply loved and that Jesus loves him.
Connor is survived by his parents, Travis and Molly Burch, and his sister, Emily, all of Estherville; maternal grandparents Rick and Amy Grunhovd of Forest City; maternal uncle Alex Grunhovd of Ames; maternal aunt Ivy Leitch and her husband, Cole, and their daughters, Isla and Ava, of Forest City; maternal great-grandparents Arnold and LaVonne Grunhovd of Rake and Karen Fowser of Ames; paternal grandmother Brenda Henninger of Waterloo; paternal aunt Amanda Burch of Waterloo and her son, Braxton; paternal uncle Jared Burch and his wife, Mekayla, and their children, Paityn, Emersyn and Kane, of Malvern; and paternal grandfather Jim Burch and step-grandmother Lyz Burch of DeWitt.
He was preceded in death by his maternal great-grandfather, Bob Fowser, and paternal great-grandparents Jack and Betty Burch and John and Donna Hoffer.
Memorial contributions may be directed to Connor’s parents, Travis and Molly Burch.
SCHOTT FUNERAL HOME is handling arrangements. To read more and see the full obituary, please click here.
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