Obituary for Everett Duane Burns

Everett Duane Burns passed from this earth into Heaven on January 14, 2023.  He was cremated per his request. 

Everett was born on the family farm outside Pukwana, SD, to Frank William and Hazel Belle Cummins-Burns on February 18, 1930.  He was five years of age when his father passed away, leaving his mother with six children ages twelve to two years of age. They moved from the farm to Kimball, where they lived for a few years before moving to Hill City. Everett was next to the youngest. He was a happy but sad boy without his father’s guidance. He was bullied and teased for, as one sibling put it, “he was as wide as he was tall”-no joke. Throughout his sad childhood, he grew into a loving, kind, thoughtful, generous, soft-spoken with a sense of humor who enjoyed helping others. He had profound wisdom when it came to life situations. He loved and accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior.

He completed the eighth grade, but the teacher did not pass him due to his not having the time to write a book report, even though he was a straight A-B student, working on a farm to help supplement his family income. He then lost the desire to complete high school and worked full-time on different farms.  He was called into the U.S. ARMY on Jan 4, 1951, serving in the Korean Conflict receiving an injury that resulted in being shipped back to the States for release from active duty as a CPL and transferred to the USAR until Honorable Discharged on Dec 17, 1956. He attended Agriculture classes on the GI Bill and obtained his GED  while farming. He met and married Henrietta ‘Ann’ Heinrichs on June 29, 1958, living on a rented farm.

The family moved in November 1969 to Donnellson, Iowa.  He worked at the State Prison as a Correctional Officer and at several factories in Fort Madison. He worked on several farms until he started working at the Riverside Plastic Manufacturing Company in Bonaparte, where he advanced to shift foreman. He worked for more than twenty years at the RPMC.   He loved farming, especially during the planting and harvesting seasons. He had a way with farm animals. He enjoyed working outside. He mowed lawns and cleared snow from several properties for many years. He knew how to fix almost anything, there was no need to hire anyone to fix cars or household appliances until the items went to chips.

He survived prostate cancer, cracked ribs from a bad fall, and an electric shock passing through his body on a farm where the handle was not covered for protection. He was a life member of the American Legion. Over the years, he served as Commander, Sergeant-at-arms, and Chaplin.  He never complained, and he rolled with the punches whenever necessary. He wouldn’t say or talk about another person unless it were something good. He gave people a second chance and the benefit of the doubt. He lived a Christian life that would put others to shame. He was hurt deeply by men who professed to be Christian but did not act with a God-like attitude. In such instants, He believed that he did not have to say or do anything in response, for he believed that God would allow the punishment if one were to happen. He saw this philosophy come to pass in several incidents. Everett had a strong faith that came through if you took the time to know him. He not only talked the talk, but he walked the walk.

Everett was a loving, caring husband and father. He enjoyed being with his family and extended family members. He was always ready to play cards, Tri-ominos, and Quad-Ominos with the family, sharing his funny one-liners. He felt honored and blessed when the grandchildren played games with him. He enjoyed traveling to all the lower forty-eight states to visit all the Farmingtons.

Survivors include wife Ann of sixty-four one half years; son, Mark Alan (Lisa) Burns; daughter, Gina K Burns of Farmington, IA; grandson Avery A. Burns of New London, IA; grandson, Kyle A. (Grace) Burns of Burlington, IA; granddaughter, Shelby Megan Burns of Farmington. Great-grandsons: Meyer, Sabastian, and Oliver Burns; many nieces and nephews; many great and great-great nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and siblings: Clarence,  Lyle (Donna), Estella (Paul) Miller, Elsie(Hubert) Burkmeirer, Alice Ora, Lewis (Georgia), Dale, Oren K; Floyd (Janet), Della (John) Ince.  Nephews, James, Leslie Burns, Franklin, John Ince; Niece Alice Kuckuk.

No funeral will be held per his request. If you have a memory to share, the family will be at 303 Elm, Farmington, on Saturday, January 21, 2023, from 3 to 5 PM; mail to PO Box 567.  Our cat, Dolly, sheds, in case you have an allergy. All memorials will be given to the Farmington EMS in his name. He wants his remains to be placed in the Black Hills National Cemetery, Sturgis, SD at a later date.