Charles W. Burson, 86, of Gothenburg, died Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2003, at Hilltop Estates in Gothenburg.

Memorial services will be held on Friday, Dec. 19, at 2 p.m., at Blase Memorial Chapel in Gothenburg. Inurnment will be at the Gothenburg Cemetery. The register book may be signed on Wednesday, Dec. 17, and Thursday, Dec. 18, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Burson was born on Oct. 19, 1917, to Charles and Margaret Soller Burson, south of Gothenburg. He was baptized in the Lutheran Church.

He graduated from Gothenburg High School in 1935. He then served in the Army as a farrier in the calvary at Fort Robinson during World War II, which was the last horse calvary regiment from Fort Robinson to serve there.

Burson traveled overseas on a troop and livestock ship to Burma, with over 1,000 horses and served in Burma and India on the Burma Road for two years.

On Dec. 18, 1942, he married Donna J. Vickers at Crawford. He ranched all of his life south of Gothenburg and enjoyed shoeing horses, according to family members.

He was a charter member of the Gothenburg Roping Club.

Burson was preceded in death by: his parents; his wife, Donna on May 12, 2003; step-father, John Jobman.

Survivors include: four daughters — Karole (John) Rowland of Littleton, CO, Connie (Charlie) Bihlmaier of Gothenburg, Nancy (Doug) Johnson of Kasilof, Alaska, and Peggy Burson of Kearney; two sisters — Emeline Decker of Boise, ID, and Irene Richardson of Westminster, CA; brother, Bill Jobman of Beaverton, OR; eight grandchildren — John (Stephanie) Rowland, William Rowland, Michael Bierma, Adam Clevenger, Joseph (Lisa) Bihlmaier, Jill (John) Schmeeckle, LaDonna (Jeff) Brock and Charles E. Burson; eight great-grandchildren — Kolton and Konner Barnes, Jacob Schmeeckle, Ty, Dade and Dakin Brock and Kendra and Ethan Bihlmaier.