DAVID FREDERICK BORCHERT, born March 19,1931 in Marshalltown Iowa, died peacefully May 25, 2021. He left this earth, surrounded by his loving family, while at his favorite place on earth, his home in Lumberton Mississippi.
David was a hardworking man, who could do a little bit of everything a lot of most things and was an inspiration to all whom he met along the way. He graduated from Zearing (Iowa) High School in 1948 and served in the Air Force until 1952 with his best friend and soon to be brother-in-law, Keith Abbey. After his time in the service, while helping build the roadways in Iowa, he met Joan Cook and it was love at first sight. They secretly eloped shortly after meeting but were outed by the small town newspaper a county over. He decided to use the GI bill and graduated from Clemson University in 1958 with highest honors, receiving a BS in Vocational Agricultural Education, making him the first person in his family to receive a college degree. After graduating he started the Baldwin Borchert Farm Enterprises in Hendersonville, North Carolina. It was a beautiful place and David and Joan were overjoyed to welcome the first of their four children. In October 1959, David received an offer from Continental Grain Company requiring his presence in New Orleans, Louisiana in two days. They jumped in the car and drove non-stop, getting there in the nick of time and thus began his long, successful career with Continental Grain Company. The family moved from New Orleans to Kansas City to Chicago to Milwaukee and settled in New Orleans in 1968, adding three sisters for David Arthur to torture.
In 1981 Joan lost her battle with cancer. He missed Joan terribly and we were all very happy when he ran into his daughters’ childhood Girl Scout Leader, Demerice Taylor Riley, and quickly fell in love. David and Dem were married in 1984, blending their families and beginning the next chapter. They took care of his beloved mother Hazel, until her death in 1993
David retired in July 1991 as the Plant Manager of Continental Grain Elevator in Westwego, Louisiana for which he was instrumental in innovating a world class facility.
As his greatest desire was to go back to his farming roots, he found his piece of heaven on earth, The Dogwood in Lumberton, Mississippi and began living his dream in 1994. His tractors, animals and gardens gave him great joy especially as it created a wonderful place for the entire family to gather and make memories.
He was preceded in death by his parents Adolph Borchert and Hazel Melvina Ballinger Borchert; his first wife, Joan Cook Borchert; Joan’s parents Arthur Cook and Maude McMurray Cook; Joan’s sisters Mona Cook Sweet (Kenneth) and Nancy Cook Meyer (Donald); Dem’s parents William Taylor and Christine Stigall Taylor; Dem’s siblings Mary Dillenkoffer (George), Billie Spanier, William Taylor, and Donna Goodman; and his grandson Jordan McNair.
He is survived by his wife Demerice Taylor Borchert; his children David Borchert (Paula), Loa Borchert, Lisa Borchert Thompson (Keith), Leslie Borchert Ockman (Jerry J. Ockman, Jr.), Debbie Riley Kraemer (Paul, deceased), and Brenda Riley Willard (Barry); his siblings Shirley Borchert Abbey (Keith, deceased), Mary Borchert Dunsmoor (Fred, deceased), and Karolyn Borchert Ferguson (Glenn); Grandchildren: David “Josh” Borchert (Courtney Lyons), Matthew Borchert, Matthew Taylor, Benjamin Thompson, David Thompson (Emma), Catherine Ockman (Eduardo Perez), Jacob Ockman (Vy), Brice Ockman, Jessie Kraemer (Limmie Bailey), and Trevor Willard; Great-Grandchildren Melody Thompson, Owen Kelley and Cammie Bailey. Also survived by a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends who all lovingly called him “POP”.
David’s road was not always easy, but he brought humility, strength, perseverance and love to everything he did and had a wonderful life full of family, friends, accomplishment and love.
The family would like to offer their heartfelt thanks to Forrest General Home Health & Hospice for their tender loving care of David and of us.
We will have a celebration of life from 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm, Saturday, March 19, 2022, at the Hickory Grove Baptist Church fellowship hall in Lumberton, MS.
The address is 39 HG Church Rd, Lumberton, MS 39455. Please come help us celebrate the life of this awesome man.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in his honor to the Wounded Warrior Project (https://woundedwarriorproject.org) a charity close to David’s heart.
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