Burns, John Dean (1955 - 2022)

BURNS, FISCHER, DENNIS, LEWIS, UMLAND, GLEASON, KNIGHTS, ESSICK, GLEASON, NELSON, HOOK, ALT, ELMQUIST, PORSCH

Posted By: Denise Wurner (email)
Date: 11/22/2022 at 18:50:13

Name of deceased: John Dean Burns

Aged: 67 yrs, 7 mo, 4 days

Residence: Harlan, Shelby County, IA (formerly of Audubon, IA)

Born: April 12, 1955; Lake City, Calhoun County, IA

Died: Nov. 16, 2022; Lakeside Hospital, Omaha, Douglas County, NE

Funeral services: Saturday, Nov. 19, 2022; Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church, Audubon, IA; interment to be at a later date.

Survived by: Children, Jerod (spouse, Brooke) Burns of Brooklyn, IA, Justin (spouse, Abby) Burns of Emmetsburg, IA, Jessica (spouse, James) Fischer of Council Bluffs, IA, Cole (spouse, McKenzie) Burns of Cedar Rapids, IA and Samantha (spouse, Brett) Dennis of Omaha, NE; grandchildren, Beau and Ethan Burns of Brooklyn, IA, Mya, MaKenna, and Madison Burns of Emmetsburg, IA, Natalie and Noah Lewis, and Addy Fischer of Council Bluffs, IA, and Mehki and Paxton Dennis of Omaha, NE; siblings, Jack (spouse, Diane) Burns of Glidden, IA, Karen Burns of Anita, IA, Debbie (spouse, Dan) Umland and Doug (spouse, Vilinda) Gleason, all of Audubon, IA, Amy (spouse, Jeff) Knights of Craig, CO, and Sue (spouse, Brad) Essick of Carroll, IA; parents who raised him, Richard and Lela Gleason of Audubon, IA; sister-in-law, Jolene Burns of Guthrie Center, IA; nieces; nephews; other family members and friends

Predeceased by: Birth parents, Howard and Geraldine (Nelson) Burns; sister, Jerilyn Burns; Joyce (and husband, Ron) Hook; brother, Ken Burns; sister-in-law, Judy Burns; nephews, Jesse Knights and Austin Alt

Education: Attended the Viola Schools in Audubon, IA, and graduated from Audubon (IA) High School, Class of 1973; he then studied at Iowa Central Community College, Ft. Dodge, IA where he played football on the National Junior College Bowl runner-up team. Graduated with a degree in farm mechanics. Later, he would move his family to Maryville, MO, where he attended Northwest Missouri State University and received a Bachelor of Science degree in Ag Education.

Religious affiliation: Baptized in the Lutheran faith; confirmed at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church in Audubon, IA; member, Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church, Audubon, IA

Military service: no information provided

Marriages: (1) Kathy Elmquist; Aug. 3, 1974; Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church, Audubon, IA (2) Tracy Porsch; July 26, 1991; at the home of the bride’s parents

Employment: Farmed for several years and also worked for Vigortone Feed; after completing his degree in Ag Education, he taught school in Dexter, IA for a while before becoming employed at Swift Meat Packing in Des Moines, IA. John returned to Audubon, IA and worked at the DX gas station. After marrying Tracy, John then farmed with Gleason and Gleason for many years. Later he decided to go out on the road and became an over-the-road trucker until his health failed.

Hobbies/Interests: Loved to hunt, cook, and ride his Harley. Later in life, he was able to locate and purchase a 1970 Chevelle similar to one he had driven in high school; enjoyed listening to rock music; reading about and watching Westerns; mostly, he loved attending the many activities of his children and grandchildren.

Sources: kjan.com; knodfm.com; kesslerfuneralhomes.com