John Burns (died 2021)

John Burns
Jack
Born	1930 Frontier, Saskatchewan
Died	2021-04-03 Thunder Bay, Ontario
Occupation	telephone company employee
Employer	CPR
Father	John Burns
Mother	Violet Burns
Partner	Shirley Steele (wife of John Burns)
Children	Larry Burns (son of John Burns) Susan Burns

John Burns (died (2021-04-03)3 April 2021, aged 90) was a Saskatchewan-born telephone company employee and dedicated community volunteer who lived in Fort William and Thunder Bay.

Life and family

John Burns, known as Jack, was born and raised in Frontier, Saskatchewan. He began his career as a policeman with the CPR, which led to his relocation to Fort William. He later joined Fort William Telephone, which became TBaytel, and remained with the company in various capacities until he retired. In his retirement years, he worked as a distributor for McKenzie Seed.

He married Shirley Steele and the couple lived in Schreiber for several years before returning to Fort William. They eventually acquired a camp at Floral Beach. Jack was a committed volunteer, serving as a leader for the 7th Fort William Troop of the Boy Scouts and participating in committees at Wesley United Church, later known as First-Wesley United Church. He was a member of the Fort William Masonic Lodge No. 415 and was a frequent donor of blood and plasma at the Red Cross, even traveling to Fort Frances to continue donating after the local clinic closed.

He was survived by his children Larry and his wife Bev, and Susan and her husband Michael. He was also survived by grandchildren Stephan and his partner Candace, and Elise, as well as great-grandchildren Teagan, Greyson, and Archer. His surviving nieces included Janice Steele and Roma and her husband Ken. He was predeceased by his wife Shirley Steele, his sister Gavina and her husband Brent Peterson, and his parents John and Violet Burns.

He died at his home on April 3, 2021. A private family service was held on April 9, 2021, with arrangements handled by Jenkens Funeral Home.

Newspaper record

• Obituary notice in The Chronicle-Journal, 2021-04-10.
  • Recorded as occurring 3 April 2021.
• Biographical notice in Fort William Daily Times-Journal, 1953-05-19.
  • Age recorded as 10 years.
  • Index note: Boat's light finds boy lost on island.
• Photo notice in Fort William Daily Times-Journal, 1956-10-15.
  • Age recorded as 14 years.
  • Index note: Boy scouts work for community chest.
• Photo notice in Fort William Daily Times-Journal, 1966-09-28.
  • Index note: Auxiliary conference.
• Graduation notice in The Chronicle-Journal, 2008-09-19.
  • Index note: LU looking for grads/1971.