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Burcham Rites Held Wednesday-Nation’s Oldest Lifeguard Was 92 Years Old

Jonas F. Burcham, well known Blair man who has gained nation-wide attention for his longevity and ability as a swimming instructor and a lifeguard, passed away at an Omaha hospital Sunday afternoon. He had been in failing health for a number of months. He was 92 years old.

Jonas who was beloved by all of the youngsters who frequented the Blair Pool, was the oldest accredited Red Cross water safety instructor in the United States. He had done lifeguard duty past his 90th birthday

During his lifetime as a lover of nature and fishing and hunting, which accompanied that life he was officially accredited with saving 93 lives. Unofficially there were many more, his own modest estimate placing the number at several hundred.

He was a lifeguard at the Blair Swimming pool for twenty years, beginning with 1931 when Jonas was 69 years of age. His appearance at the pool was perennial until 1951 and mothers of Blair children sent their children there with the assurance that while Jonas was on the job, the youngsters would be well cared for. He taught hundreds of youngsters to swim and he gained the affectionate name of “Uncle Jonas” for his efforts with the younger generation.

The deceased was born at Magnolia, Iowa, September 22, 1862. He came from sturdy stock, his father living to the ripe old age 97 and his mother living until 91.

He moved to Blair in 1886 and that same year he was married to Mary Lucinda Rhoades. She passed away in 1934. Since that time he has maintained his home, spending many of the winters in California with his daughter, Mrs. William Carter.

A carpenter by trade, Jonas followed it for a number of years. But the call of the outdoors was always strong and he often let carpentering take second place to his desire to fish, hunt, swim and follow the trails of nature. He liked to take youngsters on hikes, to go on fishing expeditions and to camp out.

He served a term as Deputy Sheriff under the late Claus Mencke and again under Fred Compton. He was Chief of Police in Blair and night-watch for many years. He took an active interest in the Fire Department, being Chief for many years. As a young man, he was one of the top runners in the old hand-drawn hose cart teams and for years he was the man who was looked to, to scale the steepest roof, crawl along the iciest gable or probe the burned-out floors.

Some years ago, members of the Blair Fire Department, tendered him a medal, given at a dinner in his behalf, in recognition of his fifty years of service to the department.

During his trips to California, which have been made in recent years, he continued to carry on his swimming. When he was 85 years of age he saved the life of a youth in the Sutto Pool in San Francisco. He also took pride in swimming which he did in the Fleishhacker Pool at San Francisco which is the largest in the world. Even upon his death bed he told vividly of trips he had taken through the Colorado mountains and expressed a desire to see the mountains once again.

Obituary courtesy of the Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings on file at the Blair Public Library.