Burns, Richard Earl 1949-2016

BURNS, ELAM, TUKKER, PAULSON, VANDER LINDEN, CULLUM, BROCKMAN

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 7/10/2016 at 20:00:08

Richard Earl Burns
April 18, 1949 - July 8, 2016

Richard Earl Burns, 67, passed away at Lutheran Hospital in Des Moines, Iowa on July 8, 2016. Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, July 13, 2016, at 11:00 a.m. at Coburn Funeral Home in Prairie City. Visitation will be held for one hour prior to the service at the funeral home. Interment will be held at the Iowa Veterans Cemetery at a later date. Memorials may be directed to English Rivers Outfitters, an organization that strives to restore our veterans' strength and independence by providing a safe outdoor experience. Condolences may be left for the family at www.coburnfuneralhomes.com

Richard was born on April 18, 1949 to Earl Delbert Burns and Laura Ruth (Elam) Burns at the home of his Elam grandparents in rural Putnam County, MO. When Richard was 5 years old, his family moved to Prairie City, IA. Rich graduated in 1969 from Prairie City High School where he participated in track, football, and testing his teachers' sanity.

In 1967 Rich again broke the rules by roller skating in the wrong direction to meet Eileen Tukker at the Dutch Roller Rink in Pella and they dated through high school. Rich enlisted in the Army in January, 1970, training at Ft. Lewis, WA and Ft. Gordon, GA. He came home on nine days leave to marry Eileen on August 7, 1970 at the parsonage of Calvary Christian Reformed Church in Pella. Rich was transferred to Kaiserslautern, West Germany in November 1970 as a heavy equipment mechanic, repairing tanks and heavy duty trucks. Eileen joined him in Germany January 1971 and their first son, Scott Earl Burns, was born at Landstuhl Army Hospital March 1972. In May 1972, Rich and his family were transferred to Ft. Carson, CO where their second son, Eric T. Burns, was born May 1973 at Ft. Carson Army Hospital. Rich finished his active enlistment and returned to Prairie City May 1975. He joined the Iowa Army National Guard, retiring after 22 years of active and reserved military service. He supported his family and Snap-On Tools as a mechanic of agriculture equipment and utility trucks, until his health required his retirement from Aspen Equipment Co., Ankeny in 2006.

Rich served the Prairie City community as a volunteer fireman for 16 years. He was active in the I.O.O.F. and a member of the American Legion. He and Eileen enjoyed camping with their mules exploring trails in IA, MO, IL, WI, KY, WY, and CO. Rich also enjoyed hunting with friends in Iowa and at his "lodge" near Unionville, MO. Grandchildren were born and added more enjoyment to his life. All his life, Rich valued time with his family and friends, whether he was tipping a stein at a German Gasthaus, twisting wrenches, "brushpopping" off the trails, waiting for "the big rack", or discovering NASCAR.

Rich is survived by his wife, Eileen Ann (Tukker) Burns, two sons and five grandchildren: Scott and Carrie (Paulson) Burns, and their two children: Skylar and Jacob. Eric and Ami (Vander Linden) Burns and their three children: Taylor, Mia, and Carter. Three brothers: Frederick (Fred) Burns, Charles (Chuck) Burns, and Mark (Bernie) Burns, his aunt, Joyce (Burns) Cullum and nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, grandparents, and a sister, Betty (Burns) Brockman. ~ The Coburn Funeral Home, Prairie City, Iowa 8 July 2016.