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New Lincolnville residents appreciate life in small-town America

By ROWENA PLETT

Staff writer

According to Dennis and Nila Burch, new residents of Lincolnville, there were several things which brought them to this area of Kansas from West Virginia.

For one thing, they wanted to be close to their youngest daughter, Melissa, and her two children, who live in Junction City.

For another, Dennis had been stationed at Fort Riley while in the military and he liked the area. He loves to fish and enjoyed camping at Milford Lake.

In addition, their daughter Anita Jo and her husband, Paul, who is stationed at Fort Bragg, N.C., are planning to move to this area in a few years. Paul is in the Army and was stationed at Fort Riley for a while. They like the area.

Dennis and Nila are Baptists and they were happy to learn that the nearby towns of Marion and Herington both have Baptist churches. Dennis said that was the clincher for him.

The Burches moved to Lincolnville in December. They had been house-hunting in the area for more than a year.

During their final weeklong search, Realtors showed them what seemed like at least 100 houses within a 60-mile radius of Junction City.

They were on their way back to their daughter's house when they made one last stop at Lincolnville to tour the modern home of the late Merle and Delores Albrecht.

"When I saw this house, I said, 'This is it,'" Dennis said.

After three months, the couple still is happy with their choice. They said the house is well-built and was "extremely well-kept." They also like their friendly neighbors.

Dennis described Lincolnville mayor Scott Gutsch as a "number one young man."

Dennis Burch grew up in North Carolina. He dropped out of school at the age of 17 to join the Army.

He met 19-year-old Nila while stationed at Columbus, Ohio.

"When I saw her, I knew she was the one for me," he said.

It took some persuasion, but the two were married a year later. They have been married for 43 years and have three children and eight grandchildren.

During his time in the Army, Dennis made 19 moves in 28 years. He served several stints in South Korea, Vietnam, and Germany. Nila was with him in Germany, where she worked as a commissary manager.

When Dennis retired from the military after 28 years, he was a command sergeant major, the highest rank an enlisted man can achieve.

After leaving the Army, he held several jobs in the private sector. He drove truck, was general manager for a Hardee's franchise, and taught ROTC (military science) to high school juniors for 12 years.

Nila was toy department manager at a Wal-Mart store.

Dennis spoke passionately about the U.S. Armed Services.

"It was a great life for us," he said. "The military saved my life. If I hadn't enlisted, I would have been in jail. I went in as a drop-out and came out with a bachelor of science degree."

He said the American military is vastly improved over what it was when he enlisted in 1962.

"We've cleaned up our act," he said. "We're a great organization now. Some people say we are softer, but we're not softer, we're smarter."

He claimed Vietnam wasn't lost, it was given away.

"This is the greatest time to be a soldier," he said. "The country supports you."

He said people need to remember 9-11 and to support the effort in Iraq because it is better to fight the enemy on foreign soil than to fight them here.

"We have people who want to kill us," he emphasized.

Anita Jo's husband Paul is scheduled to go to Iraq in May. Daughter Teresa Wade and her husband Richard live in Bedford, Ind. They have two sons, one of whom is in the military and is expected to go to Iraq in October.

The Burches spend a lot of time with their two granddaughters — Kaelyn, four, and Carlee, two. They also are enjoying the laid-back lifestyle of small-town America.

Dennis's hobby is singing gospel music. Nila bought him a sound system, and he gives programs for adults and young people.

He also is an avid deer hunter and hopes to find a way to pursue that pastime, as well. The couple own a boat and plan to spend a lot of time camping at area lakes.

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