Roger Burras

Roger Burras, 91, of Ames, and formerly of Clarion and Boone, died Sunday, Sept. 3, 2023, at Israel Family Hospice House in Ames.

Private funeral services were held Friday, Sept. 8, 2023, at Ewing Funeral Home in Clarion with Rev. Steve Larson officiating. Burial with full military rights was in Evergreen Cemetery in Clarion.

Roger Dean, son of Carl and Berthilda (Anderson) Burras, was born Oct. 12, 1931, in Kanawha. He attended country school near Eagle Grove and Kanawha before graduating from Kanawha High School. On Nov. 5, 1950, he married Dorothy “Dot” Jordanger, also of Kanawha, in St. Louis Park, Minn. They were married for more than 70 years.

Roger and Dorothy spent the early years of their marriage in San Diego, where Roger completed basic training after enlisting in the U.S. Navy, and then in Hawaii, where he was stationed during the Korean War. He served two tours of active combat duty between 1952 and 1956 aboard the USS Silverstein where he was in charge of damage control. He spoke little about his military service only to say that being away from his bride for the first 16 months of their marriage was the most difficult part of his experience. After the war ended, the couple returned to Iowa in 1956 and made their home first in Hancock County and later in Wright County where Roger farmed for 40 years.

In 1988, Roger and Dorothy moved to Clarion where they lived until 2000 when they moved to Boone. They were there until 2006 when they moved back to Clarion. In 2018, they moved to Mason City where Dorothy passed away in 2021. Roger moved to Northcrest Community in Ames on Jan. 1, 2022.

Having lost his own father when he was age 6, Roger’s faith and family were the bedrocks of his life. He loved the Lord, his wife, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren and was always sensitive and generous to anyone he knew who was in need, especially children, widows and those who were from broken homes. He consistently told everyone he knew that he considered himself to be “the most blessed person on this earth.”

Roger was a lifetime member of the VFW and American Legion, a Shriner for more than 50 years, and served as the secretary of St. John’s Lutheran Church of rural Kanawha. He found joy in fishing, going on picnics, attending his grandchildren’s and great-grandchildren’s events, taking tractor rides across the state, watching birds and other wildlife, dancing with Dot to Big Band music, and he looked forward to annual reunions with friends from the USS Silverstein. He and Dorothy traveled to all 50 states.

After Dorothy’s death, Roger found happiness in spending time with family, making new friends, listening to the Bible on tape and participating in Bible studies and church gatherings. On the evening of his death, aids were holding his hands and praying for him when one said, “Roger, it’s a good night to meet Jesus. Be sure to remember to reach out and take the hand of your wife to dance when you get to Heaven.” She then turned on a Benny Goodman song, a tear rolled down his cheek and he breathed his last breath.

Roger was preceded in death by his parents, eight siblings and his wife, Dorothy. He is survived by two sisters-in-law, Lois Cushman, of Deer Park, Ill., and Phyllis Bivona, of Brookfield Center, Conn.; daughter Vickie (David) Snyder, of Clear Lake; son Rick (Lori) Burras of Decorah; daughter Rene’ (Gary) Worrall, of Ankeny; son Todd (Stephanie) Burras, of Ames; grandchildren Alece (Tim) Hall; Maggie (Rob) Jennings; Danielle Burras (Anna Rajdl); Ryan (Elizabeth) Burras; Aria (Tyler) Behne; Jace Snyder; Rachel (Darrek) Elwood; Hannah Worrall; Annie Snyder; Andrew Burras and Elizabeth Burras; and great-grandchildren Charlotte Hall; Henrietta, Walter and Benjamin Burras; Eleanor, Raegan and Caroline Burras; Brayson, Emery and Lenley Behne; Ava and Etta Elwood; and numerous nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers and customary remembrances, Roger’s family suggests memorial contributions be directed to the Shriners Children’s Hospital of the Twin Cities and sent to Roger Burras Family, c/o Ewing Funeral Home, PO Box 363, Clarion, Iowa, 50525.