Robert R. Burns Jr.

MASON CITY: Robert R. "Bob" Burns Jr., 81, of Mason City, died Monday, September 22, 2008, at the Muse Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit. Funeral Services will be held 10:00 A.M. Saturday, September 27, 2008 at Faith Baptist Church, 1807 South Kentucky Ave. with Pastor Steven Cox of Clear Lake Regular Baptist Church and Pastor Jeff Dahlin of Praise Community Church officiating. Interment will be held in Memorial Park Cemetery with Veterans Honors conducted by the Mason City Veterans Memorial Association. Visitation will be held 5:00 to 7:00 PM Friday at the funeral home and also one hour prior to the service on Saturday at the church. Memorials may be directed to the Robert R. Burns Jr. memorial fund in care of the family.

Robert was born January 3, 1927 in Elm Creek, Nebraska the son of Robert R. Sr. and Pearl (Case) Burns. He attended school in Brooklyn, IA and graduated from there in 1945. He entered into the Army in 1951 and served his country until he was honorably discharged in 1953.

He was married to Joy Lathrop on April 14, 1962 in Kirksville, MO and to this union four children were born. Bob worked as a Land Surveyor for the Iowa D.O.T. for thirty plus years until his retirement. After retirement Bob started his own private land surveying business which he ran until 1999.

He enjoyed nature, bird watching, gardening, flowers, listening to southern gospel music and also playing board games. He also liked camping with his family in his younger years and enjoyed traveling the country. Bob cherished his family and the time he spent with them. He will be dearly missed by all who knew and loved him.

He is survived by his wife Joy of Mason City; children, Ginny Kruger and husband Terry of Fort Dodge, Vicki Hearn and husband Keith of Plymouth, Robert G. Burns and wife Martha of Clear Lake and Randy Burns and wife Tammy of Rockwell; eight grandchildren; and four great grandchildren; brothers, Norman Burns and wife Maxine of Brooklyn, IA, Gerald Burns and wife Mary of Murfreesboro, TN; sister-in-law, Joanna Lasof and husband Mark of Vancouver, WA; mother-in-law, Della Brungardt and husband Henry of Mason City; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; father-in-law; one great-grandson; two brothers; and two sisters.

Memorials:
Memorials may be directed to the Robert R. Burns Jr. memorial fund in care of the family.

Cemetery:
Interment will be held in Memorial Park Cemetery with Veterans Honors conducted by the Mason City Veterans Memorial Association.

Visitation:
Visitation will be held 5:00 to 7:00 PM Friday at the funeral home and also one hour prior to the service on Saturday at the church.

Service:
Funeral Services will be held 10:00 A.M. Saturday, September 27, 2008 at Faith Baptist Church, 1807 South Kentucky Ave. with the Rev. Steven M. Cox of Clear Lake Regular Baptist Church and Pastor Jeff Dahlin of Praise Community Church. Interment will be held in Memorial Park Cemetery with Veterans Honors conducted by the Mason City Veterans Memorial Association.