BURNS, Wallace Edward "Wally"
BURNS, WHITE, MCPEEK, COPLEY
Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 9/24/2016 at 14:11:56
Obituary ~ Wallace Edward "Wally" Burns
August 18, 1926 ~ December 24, 2013The Globe Gazette
Mason City, Cerro Gordo County, Iowa
Thursday, May 31, 2001Wallace Edward Burns was born on August 18th, 1926 in Mason City, Iowa, the son of Mansel Wood and Nellie (White) Burns. He graduated from Mason City High School in 1944, and immediately enlisted in the Army Air Force and served in Germany during World War II. He was honorably discharged in 1947. He worked for Henkel Construction then Pure Carbonic Co., both in Mason City, before becoming a teacher.
On August 29, 1948, Wally married Patricia Rae McPeek at the Methodist Church in Mason City. They had three children; Karen, Peggy, and Michael. He graduated from Iowa State Teachers College in 1950. Wally began his career as an educator teaching science at Alexander High School in Alexander, Iowa. He continued teaching sciences for the Sheffield Public Schools, while completing his Masters degree in Educational Administration at Iowa State Teachers College. He served as a science teacher and principal at Lansing High School, Lansing, Iowa. He served as High School Principal and Superintendent for the St. Ansgar Community School System. His career continued as he served as Superintendent of Schools in Marathon Public Schools and Stanwood Public Schools. Wally and Pat moved to Storm Lake in 1974 when he became the Director of Secondary Education for Iowa Central Community College, until his retirement in July of 1991.
Wally was a member of the Masonic Lodge beginning at the Pearl Lodge #426 in Sheffield, later was a member of the Jewell Lodge #309 in Storm Lake, and then became a member of the Pomegranate Lodge #408 in Alta. He became a fifty year member in 2008. He was a member of the VFW, Phi Delta Kappa, and the United Methodist Church in Storm Lake, the Wiseman's Club of Mason City, Lion's Club, and the Elks. He volunteered for the Heart Association serving as President for three years and received a State Award, was a lifetime member of the NRA, and a charter member of the Buena Vista Rifle and Pistol Club. He served on the Storm Lake City Council from 1996 through 2007. Over the years Wally enjoyed hunting, fishing, trapshooting, being an NRA Trainer, candy making, cooking, flea markets, and coffee with his friends at Hardee's.
Preceding Wally in death were his parents, brother Jay Burns, and son-in-law Frederick Richard Copley.
Wally suffered a fall while visiting his daughter in Atlanta, GA and was admitted to the Atlanta Medical Center where he died December 24, 2013 from complications caused by the fall.
Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, September of 2016
Cerro Gordo Obituaries maintained by Lynn Diemer-Mathews.
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