Robert R. Burns, 88, Waite Park

April 4, 1927 - June 22, 2015

Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:00 a.m., Friday, June 26, 2015 at St. Augustine’s Catholic Church in St. Cloud for Robert R. Burns, age 88 of Waite Park who passed away on Monday, June 22, 2015 at Quiet Oaks Hospice House, St. Augusta. Reverend Anthony Oelrich will officiate. Burial will take place with military honors at the Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery, Little Falls.
Family and friends may call from 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. on Thursday and after 8:30 a.m. on Friday at the Daniel Funeral Home, St. Cloud. Parish prayers will be 7:00 p.m. on Thursday at the funeral home in St. Cloud.

Robert Burns was born on April 4, 1927 in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, NY, to George and Adelaide (Negreira) Burns. He attended school in Merrick, NY, Winona, MN, Bayside, NY and graduated from Dwight High School, NYC. At the age of 17 he joined the Marine Corps and served in the Pacific in World War II. He graduated from St. John’s University in January of 1950 with a BA. He married Betty Ott on November 3, 1951, in Windom, MN. To this union nine were born. In 1957 he earned a MS from Mankato State University. He then did graduate work at St. Cloud State University. He worked for Peter J. Schweitzer a division of Kimberly Clark in NY and MN. He sold life insurance in MN and NY. He was a Red Cross Water Safety instructor in central and southern MN. He worked for the US Postal Service, Dept. of Labor and the Internal Revenue Service. He taught high school in Blue Earth and Albany, MN. After retiring he substitute taught at Grey Eagle and Melrose. He was active in the DFL, MEA, MFT, Boy Scouts and the Big Birch Lake Assn. He served on the Albany Village Council and was active in numerous religious and civic organizations. He built, owned and operated the Shamrock Park and Sales in Albany. He was a life member of the Eastside VFW Post 4847 in St. Cloud, Marine Corps League and Valhalla Detachment. He volunteered at the St. Cloud VA for many years.

He is survived by his wife, Betty; children, Patricia (Andy) Balmer of Portland, OR, Monica (Peter) Schneider of Fort Collins, CO, Michael of Lakewood, CO, Anthony (Patricia) of Albany, MN, Shaun of Sauk Rapids, MN, Thomas (Julie) of Chanhassen, MN, Kathleen (Michael Germain) of Apple Valley, MN, and Joel (Pamela) of Soldotna, AK; twenty grandchildren and ten great grandchildren and one on the way.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, George Jr.; sister, Dolores Pace; and son, Stephen.

Bob was a loving husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather. He will be missed.