He was born on August 20, 1927 in Algona, Iowa, the son of James David and Hazel Wright Burns. He was a graduate of Algona High School. After joining the Navy and spending several years in the South Pacific, Mr. Burns attended Coe College and graduated from Iowa State University with a degree in Forestry. He met Doris June Johnson of LaCrosse, Wisconsin while living in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. They married in 1953. Mr. Burns enjoyed a long career with Unit Structures/Koppers Company working with designing, marketing, selling, and managing sales of wood products. His career took him and his family from Milwaukee to Magnolia, Arkansas to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and finally to Cary in 1971.
Mr. Burns loved spending time with his family, especially making holidays and vacations special. He was an excellent chef and family and friends looked forward to his creations. He enjoyed Big Band music and fishing. In his younger years, he was an avid fresh water fisherman and loved to host a fish fry. Later, his interest was surf fishing. He and his wife, Doris, spent many happy days surf fishing at Topsail Beach and Ocracoke Island.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife of 58 years, Doris June Johnson Burns and sister Ruth Ann Burns Skilling. He is survived by three daughters: Jo Dee Strange and husband Todd, Lea Ann Franks, and Lynn Marie Burns and friend, Steve Blair; five grandchildren: Sterling Tuttle Gaster and husband Travis, Caitlyn Franks Kick and husband Tyler, Casey Franks, Aaron Strange, and Thomas Strange; and great-grandson Thomas Gaster. Mr. Burns is also survived by many nieces and nephews and their families.
A memorial service will be held 7:00 p.m. Tuesday, March 19, 2013 at Brown-Wynne Funeral Home in Cary. The family will receive friends immediately following the service.
In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Wake County, 250 Hospice Circle, Raleigh, North Carolina 27607 (ATTN: Foundation).
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