Gary Lee Burns

Gary Lee Burns was born on December 22, 1939 in Omaha, Nebraska to Charles and Helen (Wallick) Burns. He passed away after a short illness on October 19, 2022 in Chandler, Arizona. He moved with his family to Red Oak, Iowa in 1945 and graduated from high school with the class of 1957. On December 28, 1958 he was united in marriage to Kathryn Marie Freed at Fremont Lutheran Church, Nyman, Iowa.

He graduated from Northwest Missouri State University in 1961 with a Bachelor of Science degree and was a member of the Phi Sigma Epsilon fraternity. He and Kathy moved to Pocahontas, Iowa after graduation where he was a coach and teacher for 4 years. In 1965 he left the teaching profession and formed a partnership with Jim Fitzgerald that became Burns Fitzgerald Realtors. He was on the Pocahontas Community Hospital board that built the present hospital in 1967 and was instrumental in forming a group of investors to build the present day Pocahontas Manor Care Center in 1970. Later he became the sole owner of that facility until he sold it in 2012.

In 1985 they moved to Mesa, Arizona. He was a past member of Mesa Country Club, Iron Oaks of Sun lakes and current member of King of Glory Lutheran Church in Tempe, Arizona. He and Kathy moved to Sun Lakes, Arizona in 2010 where he enjoyed golf until his health declined. For the last 9 months they had lived at Robson Reserve where he established many new friendships and his love of playing bridge.

He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Kathy, and four children. Debra (Ted) Shimon of Peoria, Arizona, Jeffrey (Lisa) Burns of Chandler, Arizona, Denise (Mike) Ziegler of Sedalia, Colorado and Barry (Kate) Burns of Chandler, Arizona. He is also survived by 11 grandchildren. Christine (Weston) Bingham, Nick (Tate) Shimon and Tim Shimon. Kelsey, Jack and Marley Burns, Sullivan Ziegler, Eli (Aubri) Ziegler and Macy Ziegler. Elliot and Zane Burns and great grandchildren Myla, Brant, Emery and Mabel Bingham, Lane Jones and Ollie Joy Shimon. He was preceded in death by his parents, brother, Roger Burns and his sister-in-law Charlene.

His love of people, college football, Iowa State University, Kansas City Chiefs and family will never be forgotten. His greatest legacy was having never known a stranger.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to American Heart Association or your favorite charity.

Memorial services will be held on Sunday, October 30 at 2:00PM at Valley of the Sun Mortuary 10940 East Chandler Heights Rd Chandler, Az. 85248.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.valleyofthesunfuneralhome.com for the Burns family.