Obituary from The Montana Standard 10/02/2009:
Eugene Robert "Wimpy" Burns died Sept. 30, 2009. He has passed into the comfort of his Heavenly Father. A kinder and gentler soul never graced the earth.
Wimpy was born Jan. 9, 1922, in Missoula, in old St. Patrick's Hospital, to Robert Andrew Burns and Alta "Peggy" Kinsey Burns. Wimpy spent his early years in Helena, where he sold newspapers on the street during the Depression, and Three Forks, where he was dubbed Wimpy by his friends on the high school basketball team. He graduated from Three Forks High in 1940.
Wimpy honorably served his country in World War II, and was awarded the Philippine Liberation Ribbon with two Bronze Stars. He spent two years (May 1944-May 1946) in the Army Transportation Corps. He served overseas on Luzon Island in the Philippines, converting the sugar cane railroad to military operations. The Japanese still held the island, so Wimpy was sent to Tacloban, Leyte, Philippine Islands, where he helped start a General Supply 900 Base Depot. He was slated to be with the third wave of the invasion of Japan when "Happy" the "H" bomb was put into service. Wimpy joined the Veterans of Foreign Wars in March 1945, while still overseas in Tacloban. He held the longest membership in Post 689 in Deer Lodge, serving the lodge in every office and capacity and was among the first to obtain a life membership. Wimpy was also a member of Elks Lodge 1737 in Deer Lodge, and was honored statewide by the Elks in the 1980s as volunteer of the year.
In 1941, Wimpy began his lifetime career with the railroad, as a brakeman in Three Forks with the Milwaukee Road. Wimpy was the conductor on the last train to leave Alberton, on March 20, 1980. During his 43-year career with the railroad, Wimpy worked as a brakeman and conductor on freight and passenger trains. He also worked as yard switchman, extra relief yardmaster and foreman in Spokane and Deer Lodge. Wimpy retired on April 1, 1983, having spent his last three years working for the Burlington Northern. Wimpy joined the Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen (UTU) on Aug. 19, 1941, and remained a member in good standing until his death. He served as union representative to the Milwaukee Railroad Hospital Association and was a member in good standing with the "Retirees" of the Transportation Union.
On June 15, 1948, Wimpy married Mary Jo Sager, a great-granddaughter of Montana pioneer John Quinlan, after a sweet courtship that began at the Rialto Theater. They enjoyed a rich family life in the Deer Lodge Valley, and forever enjoyed fishing and trailer camping. They had three sons: Alan Rex, Dennis Carl and James Paul. Mary Jo died June 19, 1991.
On May 17, 1993, Wimpy married Barbara Emily (Proebstel) Johnston in Missoula. Wimpy and Emily had been friends since meeting in 1941 in Alberton. Wimpy and Emily enjoyed retirement. They traveled extensively throughout the United States and Europe, and on cruises around the world. In 1992, they became involved with square and round dancing (believing the more squares the better). Their long involvement in Clark Fork City Church resulted in a great many friendships. Wimpy always had a smile and a "high five" for all of the children. His kind and gentle spirit will be missed, immeasurably, by all who knew and loved him — and there were many of us.
Survivors include his wife, Emily Burns of Missoula; son, Alan of Missoula; son, Dennis (Andrea) and their children, Blake and Kieran of Highland Park, Texas; and son, James (Laura) and their daughter, Sarah of Kennewick, Wash.; stepdaughter, Cathy Overbeck (Mike) of Houston and their children, Shane and Kevin (Valerie) and grandchildren, Tiffany and Steven Overbeck; stepson, Philip Johnson (Monica) of McMinnville, Ore., and their daughter, Elizabeth; stepson, Shannon Johnson (Sarah) of San Diego and their children, Ryan, Eric, Tyler and Shannon; and brothers, Harvey of Billings and Charles (Viola) of Tempe, Ariz.
He was preceded in death by his parents and brother, Rex.
Services will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 6, at the Clark Fork City Church, Missoula, with Pastor Bruce Donnelly officiating. Graveside services and burial with full military honors will be held at Hillcrest Memorial Cemetery in Deer Lodge at 4 p.m. the same day, with the Rev. William Wohlers officiating. A gathering of friends and family will follow in the Pioneer Room of the Broken Arrow in Deer Lodge. All whose lives he touched are welcome.
Eugene Robert "Wimpy" Burns died Sept. 30, 2009. He has passed into the comfort of his Heavenly Father. A kinder and gentler soul never graced the earth.
Wimpy was born Jan. 9, 1922, in Missoula, in old St. Patrick's Hospital, to Robert Andrew Burns and Alta "Peggy" Kinsey Burns. Wimpy spent his early years in Helena, where he sold newspapers on the street during the Depression, and Three Forks, where he was dubbed Wimpy by his friends on the high school basketball team. He graduated from Three Forks High in 1940.
Wimpy honorably served his country in World War II, and was awarded the Philippine Liberation Ribbon with two Bronze Stars. He spent two years (May 1944-May 1946) in the Army Transportation Corps. He served overseas on Luzon Island in the Philippines, converting the sugar cane railroad to military operations. The Japanese still held the island, so Wimpy was sent to Tacloban, Leyte, Philippine Islands, where he helped start a General Supply 900 Base Depot. He was slated to be with the third wave of the invasion of Japan when "Happy" the "H" bomb was put into service. Wimpy joined the Veterans of Foreign Wars in March 1945, while still overseas in Tacloban. He held the longest membership in Post 689 in Deer Lodge, serving the lodge in every office and capacity and was among the first to obtain a life membership. Wimpy was also a member of Elks Lodge 1737 in Deer Lodge, and was honored statewide by the Elks in the 1980s as volunteer of the year.
In 1941, Wimpy began his lifetime career with the railroad, as a brakeman in Three Forks with the Milwaukee Road. Wimpy was the conductor on the last train to leave Alberton, on March 20, 1980. During his 43-year career with the railroad, Wimpy worked as a brakeman and conductor on freight and passenger trains. He also worked as yard switchman, extra relief yardmaster and foreman in Spokane and Deer Lodge. Wimpy retired on April 1, 1983, having spent his last three years working for the Burlington Northern. Wimpy joined the Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen (UTU) on Aug. 19, 1941, and remained a member in good standing until his death. He served as union representative to the Milwaukee Railroad Hospital Association and was a member in good standing with the "Retirees" of the Transportation Union.
On June 15, 1948, Wimpy married Mary Jo Sager, a great-granddaughter of Montana pioneer John Quinlan, after a sweet courtship that began at the Rialto Theater. They enjoyed a rich family life in the Deer Lodge Valley, and forever enjoyed fishing and trailer camping. They had three sons: Alan Rex, Dennis Carl and James Paul. Mary Jo died June 19, 1991.
On May 17, 1993, Wimpy married Barbara Emily (Proebstel) Johnston in Missoula. Wimpy and Emily had been friends since meeting in 1941 in Alberton. Wimpy and Emily enjoyed retirement. They traveled extensively throughout the United States and Europe, and on cruises around the world. In 1992, they became involved with square and round dancing (believing the more squares the better). Their long involvement in Clark Fork City Church resulted in a great many friendships. Wimpy always had a smile and a "high five" for all of the children. His kind and gentle spirit will be missed, immeasurably, by all who knew and loved him — and there were many of us.
Survivors include his wife, Emily Burns of Missoula; son, Alan of Missoula; son, Dennis (Andrea) and their children, Blake and Kieran of Highland Park, Texas; and son, James (Laura) and their daughter, Sarah of Kennewick, Wash.; stepdaughter, Cathy Overbeck (Mike) of Houston and their children, Shane and Kevin (Valerie) and grandchildren, Tiffany and Steven Overbeck; stepson, Philip Johnson (Monica) of McMinnville, Ore., and their daughter, Elizabeth; stepson, Shannon Johnson (Sarah) of San Diego and their children, Ryan, Eric, Tyler and Shannon; and brothers, Harvey of Billings and Charles (Viola) of Tempe, Ariz.
He was preceded in death by his parents and brother, Rex.
Services will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 6, at the Clark Fork City Church, Missoula, with Pastor Bruce Donnelly officiating. Graveside services and burial with full military honors will be held at Hillcrest Memorial Cemetery in Deer Lodge at 4 p.m. the same day, with the Rev. William Wohlers officiating. A gathering of friends and family will follow in the Pioneer Room of the Broken Arrow in Deer Lodge. All whose lives he touched are welcome.
Obituary from The Montana Standard 10/02/2009:
Eugene Robert "Wimpy" Burns died Sept. 30, 2009. He has passed into the comfort of his Heavenly Father. A kinder and gentler soul never graced the earth.
Wimpy was born Jan. 9, 1922, in Missoula, in old St. Patrick's Hospital, to Robert Andrew Burns and Alta "Peggy" Kinsey Burns. Wimpy spent his early years in Helena, where he sold newspapers on the street during the Depression, and Three Forks, where he was dubbed Wimpy by his friends on the high school basketball team. He graduated from Three Forks High in 1940.
Wimpy honorably served his country in World War II, and was awarded the Philippine Liberation Ribbon with two Bronze Stars. He spent two years (May 1944-May 1946) in the Army Transportation Corps. He served overseas on Luzon Island in the Philippines, converting the sugar cane railroad to military operations. The Japanese still held the island, so Wimpy was sent to Tacloban, Leyte, Philippine Islands, where he helped start a General Supply 900 Base Depot. He was slated to be with the third wave of the invasion of Japan when "Happy" the "H" bomb was put into service. Wimpy joined the Veterans of Foreign Wars in March 1945, while still overseas in Tacloban. He held the longest membership in Post 689 in Deer Lodge, serving the lodge in every office and capacity and was among the first to obtain a life membership. Wimpy was also a member of Elks Lodge 1737 in Deer Lodge, and was honored statewide by the Elks in the 1980s as volunteer of the year.
In 1941, Wimpy began his lifetime career with the railroad, as a brakeman in Three Forks with the Milwaukee Road. Wimpy was the conductor on the last train to leave Alberton, on March 20, 1980. During his 43-year career with the railroad, Wimpy worked as a brakeman and conductor on freight and passenger trains. He also worked as yard switchman, extra relief yardmaster and foreman in Spokane and Deer Lodge. Wimpy retired on April 1, 1983, having spent his last three years working for the Burlington Northern. Wimpy joined the Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen (UTU) on Aug. 19, 1941, and remained a member in good standing until his death. He served as union representative to the Milwaukee Railroad Hospital Association and was a member in good standing with the "Retirees" of the Transportation Union.
On June 15, 1948, Wimpy married Mary Jo Sager, a great-granddaughter of Montana pioneer John Quinlan, after a sweet courtship that began at the Rialto Theater. They enjoyed a rich family life in the Deer Lodge Valley, and forever enjoyed fishing and trailer camping. They had three sons: Alan Rex, Dennis Carl and James Paul. Mary Jo died June 19, 1991.
On May 17, 1993, Wimpy married Barbara Emily (Proebstel) Johnston in Missoula. Wimpy and Emily had been friends since meeting in 1941 in Alberton. Wimpy and Emily enjoyed retirement. They traveled extensively throughout the United States and Europe, and on cruises around the world. In 1992, they became involved with square and round dancing (believing the more squares the better). Their long involvement in Clark Fork City Church resulted in a great many friendships. Wimpy always had a smile and a "high five" for all of the children. His kind and gentle spirit will be missed, immeasurably, by all who knew and loved him — and there were many of us.
Survivors include his wife, Emily Burns of Missoula; son, Alan of Missoula; son, Dennis (Andrea) and their children, Blake and Kieran of Highland Park, Texas; and son, James (Laura) and their daughter, Sarah of Kennewick, Wash.; stepdaughter, Cathy Overbeck (Mike) of Houston and their children, Shane and Kevin (Valerie) and grandchildren, Tiffany and Steven Overbeck; stepson, Philip Johnson (Monica) of McMinnville, Ore., and their daughter, Elizabeth; stepson, Shannon Johnson (Sarah) of San Diego and their children, Ryan, Eric, Tyler and Shannon; and brothers, Harvey of Billings and Charles (Viola) of Tempe, Ariz.
He was preceded in death by his parents and brother, Rex.
Services will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 6, at the Clark Fork City Church, Missoula, with Pastor Bruce Donnelly officiating. Graveside services and burial with full military honors will be held at Hillcrest Memorial Cemetery in Deer Lodge at 4 p.m. the same day, with the Rev. William Wohlers officiating. A gathering of friends and family will follow in the Pioneer Room of the Broken Arrow in Deer Lodge. All whose lives he touched are welcome.
Eugene Robert "Wimpy" Burns died Sept. 30, 2009. He has passed into the comfort of his Heavenly Father. A kinder and gentler soul never graced the earth.
Wimpy was born Jan. 9, 1922, in Missoula, in old St. Patrick's Hospital, to Robert Andrew Burns and Alta "Peggy" Kinsey Burns. Wimpy spent his early years in Helena, where he sold newspapers on the street during the Depression, and Three Forks, where he was dubbed Wimpy by his friends on the high school basketball team. He graduated from Three Forks High in 1940.
Wimpy honorably served his country in World War II, and was awarded the Philippine Liberation Ribbon with two Bronze Stars. He spent two years (May 1944-May 1946) in the Army Transportation Corps. He served overseas on Luzon Island in the Philippines, converting the sugar cane railroad to military operations. The Japanese still held the island, so Wimpy was sent to Tacloban, Leyte, Philippine Islands, where he helped start a General Supply 900 Base Depot. He was slated to be with the third wave of the invasion of Japan when "Happy" the "H" bomb was put into service. Wimpy joined the Veterans of Foreign Wars in March 1945, while still overseas in Tacloban. He held the longest membership in Post 689 in Deer Lodge, serving the lodge in every office and capacity and was among the first to obtain a life membership. Wimpy was also a member of Elks Lodge 1737 in Deer Lodge, and was honored statewide by the Elks in the 1980s as volunteer of the year.
In 1941, Wimpy began his lifetime career with the railroad, as a brakeman in Three Forks with the Milwaukee Road. Wimpy was the conductor on the last train to leave Alberton, on March 20, 1980. During his 43-year career with the railroad, Wimpy worked as a brakeman and conductor on freight and passenger trains. He also worked as yard switchman, extra relief yardmaster and foreman in Spokane and Deer Lodge. Wimpy retired on April 1, 1983, having spent his last three years working for the Burlington Northern. Wimpy joined the Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen (UTU) on Aug. 19, 1941, and remained a member in good standing until his death. He served as union representative to the Milwaukee Railroad Hospital Association and was a member in good standing with the "Retirees" of the Transportation Union.
On June 15, 1948, Wimpy married Mary Jo Sager, a great-granddaughter of Montana pioneer John Quinlan, after a sweet courtship that began at the Rialto Theater. They enjoyed a rich family life in the Deer Lodge Valley, and forever enjoyed fishing and trailer camping. They had three sons: Alan Rex, Dennis Carl and James Paul. Mary Jo died June 19, 1991.
On May 17, 1993, Wimpy married Barbara Emily (Proebstel) Johnston in Missoula. Wimpy and Emily had been friends since meeting in 1941 in Alberton. Wimpy and Emily enjoyed retirement. They traveled extensively throughout the United States and Europe, and on cruises around the world. In 1992, they became involved with square and round dancing (believing the more squares the better). Their long involvement in Clark Fork City Church resulted in a great many friendships. Wimpy always had a smile and a "high five" for all of the children. His kind and gentle spirit will be missed, immeasurably, by all who knew and loved him — and there were many of us.
Survivors include his wife, Emily Burns of Missoula; son, Alan of Missoula; son, Dennis (Andrea) and their children, Blake and Kieran of Highland Park, Texas; and son, James (Laura) and their daughter, Sarah of Kennewick, Wash.; stepdaughter, Cathy Overbeck (Mike) of Houston and their children, Shane and Kevin (Valerie) and grandchildren, Tiffany and Steven Overbeck; stepson, Philip Johnson (Monica) of McMinnville, Ore., and their daughter, Elizabeth; stepson, Shannon Johnson (Sarah) of San Diego and their children, Ryan, Eric, Tyler and Shannon; and brothers, Harvey of Billings and Charles (Viola) of Tempe, Ariz.
He was preceded in death by his parents and brother, Rex.
Services will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 6, at the Clark Fork City Church, Missoula, with Pastor Bruce Donnelly officiating. Graveside services and burial with full military honors will be held at Hillcrest Memorial Cemetery in Deer Lodge at 4 p.m. the same day, with the Rev. William Wohlers officiating. A gathering of friends and family will follow in the Pioneer Room of the Broken Arrow in Deer Lodge. All whose lives he touched are welcome.
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