Jim Burnett, 77, of Acampo, died Monday, December 13, 2010, at Lodi Memorial Hospital. He was born January 14, 1933, in Lodi to a fourth generation California farming family. The oldest of four children born to Paul and Elsie Burnett, Jim was raised on the Burnett Ranch on Lower Sacramento Road. He attended Lodi High School where he was a member of the California State Champion FFA Livestock Judging Team, and was awarded a State Farmer Degree. After high school, he was called to serve his country for two years in Korea where he worked as a cook and as an M.P. in the Combat Military Police Battalion of the U.S. Army guarding and transporting Korean prisoners. After discharge, he returned to Lodi. While at Lodi High, he met the love of his life, Carol Breitenbucher. The two were married in 1957, and continued on their families' farming tradition, farming row crops and Tokay grapes. Jim and his brother, Larry formed a partnership, farming tomatoes, beans and sugar beets. Upon his father's death, Jim continued farming on his own, replacing Tokays with Zinfandel. He also worked as a Vineyard Manager for others. During his prolific career as a grape grower, Jim had a direct hand in overseeing the planting and management of over 3,000 acres of wine grapes from Sacramento to Stockton, many of which are still producing fruit for fine wine. Jim and Carol were blessed with three children: Vicki, Todd, and James. They started a purebred sheep flock when their children became involved in Oak View 4-H club. At one time, their flock consisted of over 300 purebred and 1,000 commercial ewes. As the children moved on, the sheep were replaced with Hereford and Angus cattle. Jim loved the cattle and continued to work and expand the herd until his death. Jim never "retired" in his later life, preferring checking cows to taking it easy. He was a member of California Wool Growers, California Farm Bureau, California Cattlemen Association, and Lodi District Grape Growers Association. His tremendous work ethic and love has served as an inspiration to his children, grandchildren, and all who knew him as a friend. He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Carol Burnett of Acampo; daughter, Vicki Burnett Bridgewater and her son Jacob Bridgewater of Lockeford; son, Todd Burnett (Shari) and their children, Shelby and Tommy Burnett of Lodi; son, Dr. James Burnett (Karen) and their children, Grace and James Burnett of Texas; sister, Annette Anderson of Seattle; brother, Stan Burnett of Healdsburg; sister-in-law, Shirley Burnett of Merced; nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his son-in-law, Duane "Skip" Bridgewater; brother, Larry Burnett; brother-in-law, John Anderson; and sister-in-law, Diane Burnett. Friends are invited to visit Thursday from 10:00a.m.until 8:00 p.m. and Saturday from 9:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. at Lodi Funeral Home. A chapel service will be held on Saturday, December 18th, at 1:00 p.m. with committal to follow at Lodi Memorial Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in his memory to Hospice of San Joaquin, 3888 Pacific Avenue, Stockton, CA 95204.