BURRIS, Eugene F. "Gene"

BURRIS, WOEHLK, KEEN, WAKEFIELD

Posted By: Pat Ludeke (email)
Date: 6/10/2013 at 15:02:57

Eugene F. Burris, 91, of 705 3rd Ave N, Clear Lake, died Tuesday, June 15, 2004,
at the Muse-Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit, Mason City, Iowa. Memorial services
will be held 11 a.m., Thursday, July 8, at Zion Lutheran Church, 112 N. 4th
St., Clear Lake with the Rev. Dean Hess officiating. Visitation will be held one
hour prior to the service at the church. Memorials may be made to Zion Lutheran
Church.

Gene was born Aug. 22, 1912, the son of Marshall and Mary (Wass) Burris, at
Mason City. After graduation from Mason City High School in 1933, he worked as
a salesman in the Davenport, Iowa area. He met Dorothy Woehlk during that time
and they were married March 27, 1937 at the Little Brown Church at Nashua, Iowa.
Eventually they settled in Clear Lake. Gene spent four years helping build the
Alcan Highway in Canada. He later worked for Williams Pipeline Company and
retired in 1977 after 32 years of employment.

Gene was a jack-of-all-trades and a skilled carpenter with the ability to build
or fix almost anything. He finished construction on the family home in 1950,
where he remained active until his death. He also built a much-enjoyed cabin in
Colorado and a number of toys and playthings for his children and
grandchildren. For many years he won the outdoor lighting contest and continued
his tradition of Christmas lighting through the past holiday season. Gene was an
avid fisherman, boater, and outdoor enthusiast with a fondness for animals. He
was a long time member of Zion Lutheran Church.

Gene is survived by three children, Ron (Brenda) Burris of Horse Shoe, N.C.,
Dennis (Barbara) Burris of Dexter, Or.; and Wendy (Will) Keen of Mason City; 13
grandchildren, Jon, Jeff, Roddy and Tom Burris, Heather Preston, Briceanne
Bailey, Nancy Frame, Brent Bailey, Johannah Keil, Korenza Burris, Jennifer,
Aimee and Nathan Keen and 11 great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Dorothy; brother, Merlin
Burris and sister, Evelyn Wakefield.