Harold James Burnside, 96 of Coldwater passed away on Thursday, October 9, 2014 at the Community Health Center of Branch County.

A funeral service will take place at 11:00 AM on Monday, October 13, 2014 at Dutcher Funeral Home in Coldwater with Pastor Jim Erwin from Bethel-Gilead Community Church officiating. Interment will follow at Card Cemetery. Visitation will be Sunday, October 12, 2014 from 2 – 4 & 6 – 8:00 PM at Dutcher Funeral Home.

Harold was born November 19, 1917 to James and Rachel (Weaver) Burnside in Gilead Township. He graduated from Coldwater High School in 1936. Harold worked his entire life on the family farm, where he began milking cows at the age of 8 and did not retire until he turned 80. He was a member of Farm Bureau and Unity Grange. He married the love of his life Cathern Kinter on September 2, 1944. They were involved with Country Couples, where Harold was a past President.

Mr. Burnside will be remembered as a very quiet, honest, and generous man. He was a man of faith and a member at Bethel-Gilead Community Church. Harold enjoyed reading about farming, telling jokes and helping others. In his younger days he like playing baseball and had a farm team called the Bethel Barefoot Boys. Most of all he was a loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather.

Harold is survived by his wife of 70 years, Cathern Burnside of Coldwater; his daughter Marylyn (Gille) Arseneault of Coldwater; his grand-children Jessica (David “DJ”) Herlan of Coldwater and Nathan (Dr. Rebecca) Andridge of Columbus, OH; his great grand-children Deegan Herlan and Grant Andridge. He was preceded in death by his parents and his sister Lucille Burnside.

Memorials may be directed to the H.C. Burnside Center or Bethel-Gilead Community Church. www.dutcherfh.com