Born January 8, 1940 in Johnson County, KS to Anton and Pauline Burch, Dema Jo attended the one room school house Round Prairie, then Northwest Jr High and Wyandotte High School. Dema Jo married her childhood sweetheart who lived only six blocks away, Harold Franklin Bengert on November 29, 1957. The two laughed their way through fifty years until Harold’s passing in 2008. Dema Jo and Harold enjoyed a life of adventure, moving to Memphis and then Kingsville, TX, where they had their first daughter Debbie. When Harold was transferred to sea duty on the USS Oriskany, Dema Jo moved back home to Kansas City – a most cherished time for her parents and two younger brothers. Harold and Dema Jo later settled in Western Wyandotte County and had their second daughter, Brandi, followed by years of traveling, camping, hiking, music and cherished time with friends and family.
Dema Jo was an active member of the PTA when her girls were in school. She was an ever-present member of Victory Hills Church of the Nazarene, where she touched so many with her warm presence and that “famous smile.” Dema Jo taught Sunday school for decades, missionary classes and even implemented a Wednesday weekday church school where children were bussed in from Hazel Grove to study scripture. Some thirty years later a chance encounter with a gentleman who recognized her revealed the impact she had made, when he shared that after all those years that time was the most fun he had ever had in church.
Since the passing of her beloved Harold, Dema Jo’s resilience was an inspiration to all: she never allowed any room for discouragement or negativity. While health issues were present, Dema Jo continued to defy the odds and live fully, traveling to Europe and elsewhere, spending time with family and friends, lunching, reading and laughing with one of her very best friends, Dee, and always making those around her feel loved.
Dema Jo made everyone she knew, met or simply encountered feel cared for, important, interesting, beautiful and special. She was a magnificent smile, a loving hug, a warm ray of light. There was nothing better than having a cup of coffee with her and sharing stories and laughter.
Dema Jo is preceded in death by her parents and her love Harold. Dema Jo is survived by her daughters Debra Martin of Eldon, MO and Brandi (John) Tramazzo of Marco Island, FL; brothers Randy (Dee) Burch of Kansas City, MO and Alan (Linda) Burch of Blue Springs, MO; grandchildren Heather (Jordan) West, Lacy (Shannon) Merritt, Giovanna and Nick Tramazzo and six great grandchildren. She will be terribly missed by all who knew her but leaves a remarkable legacy of loving kindness and serves as an inspiration for us all to smile more.
Visitation services for family and friends will be held on Friday, November 17, from 11AM – 1PM, followed by Funeral service at 1PM, at Mt. Moriah Funeral Home, 10507 Holmes Rd in Kansas City (816-942-2004).
