Dean Burnes, Sr.

Dean A. Burnes, Sr.

Age 87 of Morris, passed away Monday, March 16, 2015 at Morris Hospital.

Born July 31, 1927 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Dean Albion was a son of the late Clinton Hartig and Dorothy (Bailey) Burnes. He was raised and educated in Minneapolis and was a veteran of the United States Coast Guard. On July 24, 1949, Dean married Grace Marie Johnson in Wilmington. He worked at Atlas Paper Mill in Morris, as well as The Joliet Army Ammunition Plant. After the death of Grace in 1974, Dean relocated to Dallas Texas, where he gained employment with Bankers Life and Casualty, and later retired from Dallas Theological Seminary. On May 8, 1997, Dean married LaVerne  Day (nee Allison) in Dallas, and together they made their home back in Morris. Dean was a member of First Baptist Church in Morris, and will be remembered for his love of golf, fishing and model trains.

Survivors include his wife LaVerne; eight children: Becky Burnes Foster of Morris, Tom (Amy) Burnes of Wilmington, Ruth Mance of Ottawa, Dean, Jr. (Nancy) Burnes of Wilmington, Peggy (Tom) Uerkwitz of Coal City, Randy (Joanne) Burnes of Braidwood, Jan (Rich) Huppert of Thorton and Cathy Barnes of Mesquite, Texas; daughter-in-law Carol Day of Morris; (30) grandchildren; (55) great grandchildren; (14) great-great grandchildren, and (5) brothers: Clinton, Jr. "Bud", James, David, Jon and Gene.

Dean was preceded in death by his parents; first wife Grace; two daughters: Donna Jean and Cheryl Lynn; one great granddaughter Grace Ann; three step-children: Jon, Jim and Jody; one sister Janet Faxon and three brothers: Doug, Bruce and Keith Burnes.

A private family visitation will be held, and cremation rites are being accorded per Dean's wishes.

The family will receive friends on Friday, March 20, 2015 from 12:00 noon until time of memorial service 2:00 p.m. at Reeves Funeral Home, 408 East Washington Street (one block east of Illinois Route 47) in Morris. Pastor Steve Larson will officiate, and inurnment will be in Evergreen Cemetery, Morris.

Preferred memorials may be made as gifts in Dean's memory to: We Care of Grundy County, 530 Bedford Road, Morris, Illinois 60450.

Family and friends may sign the guest book or visit Dean's memorial page by logging onto: www.ReevesFuneral.com

Cremation services and memorial arrangements have been made under the direction and care of Reeves Funeral Homes, Ltd. in Morris. (815/942-2500)