Robert Neil Burns

November 11, 1923

June 6, 2023

Bob was the second oldest of seven children, born November 11, 1923 in Ogden, Utah, to Betty and Murray Burns.

Born on Veteran’s Day and passing away on the 79th anniversary of D-Day, he proudly served his country as part of The Greatest Generation. Bob was a fighter pilot in the Army Air Forces in WWII. He flew 31 missions in his P-51 Mustang from early January through Germany’s surrender in May 1945. After the war, Bob joined the Air National Guard and later went on to serve his country in the Korean war.

Bob grew up in Boise on Warm Springs Avenue, graduating from Boise High School in 1942 as a member of the ROTC and a Golden Gloves boxer. He had a lifelong enthusiasm for physical fitness, running, working out in the gym, playing hand ball, chopping and stacking wood for the fireplace, and following a legendary abdomen workout routine that he faithfully carried out for decades. Bob was an early employee and subsequent President of Western Conveyer, later named Hustler, Inc., a heavy equipment manufacturing company located in Boise. Later, he joined Morrison Knudsen where he worked until his retirement. Bob had a passion and skill for investing in the stock market.

After retiring, Bob moved with his wife of 63 years, Shirley Greenway Burns, to Stanwood, Washington, into their dream home on the Salish Sea. He loved fishing, crabbing, growing flowers and vegetables, and enjoyed traveling around the world with Shirley.

Bob passed away peacefully with family at his residence at the Terraces on East Warm Springs Ave in Boise. He is survived by his children Leslie (Oak Park, IL), Bob (Jacque, Boise, ID), Scott (Laura, Stevenson, WA) and Bruce (Kim, Seattle, WA), eleven grandchildren, sixteen great grandchildren, and two great-great grandchildren, and one sister. We will miss his strong and loving heart and his wonderful sense of humor.

Bob was in the 100th year of his life when he contracted COVID on Memorial Day weekend. This coming Veterans Day, November 11th, 2023 would have marked his 100th birthday. A military memorial service will be held at the Dry Creek Idaho State Veterans Cemetery in his honor.

Rest in peace, Dad. We will remember and love you forever.