Wayne Paul Burch

Wayne Paul Burch, son of Vernon Monroe and Edna Christine (Wilson) Burch, was born April 30, 1947 in Sleeper, Missouri. He departed this life Thursday, July 24, 2025 at Lake Regional Hospital, at the age of seventy-eight years, two months and twenty-four days.

On September 30, 1977, Wayne was united in marriage to Janice Laurie Bishop and together they shared forty-eight years.

Wayne was preceded in death by his parents; a son, Garrett Burch; and his brother, Dr. George Vernon Burch.

He is survived by his wife, Janice, of the home; a son, Corey Burch and wife Kelsey, of Brumley, Missouri; a daughter-in-law, Michelle Burch of Camdenton, Missouri; his grandchildren, who he loved dearly, Garrett, Moriah, Marshal, Alexis, Piper, Calliah and Carson; his nieces and nephews, Kyle, Kory and Kara Burch and Candice Cuyar; as well as his entire Camdenton Laker family.

Wayne grew up in Sleeper and was a graduate of Stoutland High School where he excelled in baseball and basketball. Following graduation, Wayne entered into the United States Army and proudly served his country during the Vietnam War. Wayne later attended Southwest Baptist University where he earned his degree in Education and played basketball and baseball.

Wayne began his career in education at Pleasant Hope. He later worked at Bolivar High School where he took his baseball team to state. He briefly taught and coached at Macks Creek High School until 1981, at which point he became a Camdenton Laker. Wayne taught Driver’s Education, History and P.E. He also coached Golf, Girls and Boys Basketball, 7th grade football and devoted countless hours to other sports within the Camdenton R-3 School District. Wayne was a staple in the press box on Friday nights at Bob Shore Stadium. He was a noted historian of Laker Football and kept a book of stats dating back to the beginning of the program in 1965. Wayne took great pride in being the bookkeeper for the program and had compiled a list of wins, losses, points scored, longest plays and countless other categories that he would share with the coaching staff every Friday before kickoff. He also spent many years working the scorer’s table for the middle school basketball teams.

Wayne was a member of the Camdenton Community Christian Church.

He was an avid St. Louis Cardinal baseball fan. Wayne loved talking Cardinals Baseball and Laker sports with his friends and family. In 2020, Wayne was enshrined in the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame as an Elite 11 member for his contributions to the Laker Athletic Program.

Wayne was a loving husband, father, grandfather and uncle and was a caring neighbor and friend. We celebrate his life and accomplishments and will treasure the many wonderful memories he has created for his family and friends.

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 am, Wednesday, July 30, 2025 in the Dr. John Bearden Little Theater at Camdenton Middle School. Burial with military honors will follow at Allee Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be from 4-6:00 pm, Tuesday, July 29, 2025 in the Little Theater. A memorial has been established and may be made to Allee-Holman-Howe Funeral Home at 15 Clint Ave, Camdenton, Missouri 65020.

Arrangements are under the direction of the Allee-Holman-Howe Funeral Home of Camdenton, Missouri.