Kathleen Burns, 69, has gone home, leaving behind a circle of those who loved her.
What we offer here is gratitude wrapped in remembrance.
Kathleen's story began in 1947, and unfolded across the years that followed.
Kathleen spent her working life as ['RN spanned many roles'] and held deeply to the Muslim faith — and was, by all accounts, loved by those who knew her best.
Belief, when lived, becomes a kind of inheritance.
Kathleen Mary Burns was born December 6, 1947, in Mitchell, South Dakota, to Lois (Overgaard) and Earl Bormann. She had two sisters: Sharon (Rodney) Osthus and Jill (Evelyn Kirkley) Bormann. She graduated from Parker High School and Augustana College with a Bachelor of Science in nursing. Kathleen married Donald Burns and they had four sons, Paul (Katie) of Sheffield, MA; John of Mankato, MN; Matthew (1975-1982); and Steven of St. Paul, MN. She had five grandchildren: Ariannah, Annabelle, Billy, Julian, and Vanya. Kathleen's career as an RN spanned many roles, ranging from intensive care, orthopedics, obstetrics, teaching, to co-founding a business in rehabilitation and discharge planning. She also found time to participate zestfully in Toastmasters, OLLI Classes, Christian Women's Club, and Bible Study Fellowship. She was an active member of the Avera Wellness Center and she hated to miss her early morning classes. She brought enthusiasm, commitment, and a sense of fun to everything she did. Kathleen's faith in God and love for people defined her. She was devoted to her church (Linwood Wesleyan), her family, and her community. She was a loving mother, wife, sister, grandmother and caring friend who loved people and having fun. There were so many things which brought her joy: she loved to listen to other people's stories, she loved to laugh (especially at herself), she loved to learn (in the past two years, she had taken classes on musical theater, Islam, and car maintenance, to name just a few), and she loved to bear witness to her faith. But above all else, Kathleen was happiest when she could help people, which she did with a humble, tireless, and generous heart. She turned often to scripture for solace and strength. Kathleen had her share of loss and pain, but she was a model of how to experience sadness without bitterness and loss without regret. She never doubted for a moment that her own death would be a joyous homecoming and reunion. One of her favorite verses was, Ephesians 3:20: "Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen." Kathleen was preceded in death by her son Matthew, husband Donald, sister Sharon, and parents Earl and Lois Bormann. Funeral services will be at 11:00am Saturday, August 12, 2017 at Linwood Wesleyan Church, Sioux Falls with burial at Rosehill Cemetery, Parker. Visitation will be from 5-6:30pm Friday with a Prayer Service at 6:30pm at the church.
