100, of Seminole passed away on Sunday, December 20, 2020, at Cypress Creek Assisted Living in Sun City, Florida. Bob was born August 8, 1920, in Boston, Massachusetts to the late James Matthew Burns & Nellie Burns (Galvin).
Bob was a member of “the Greatest Generation” serving in World War II as an airborne paratrooper (CO G, 507 PRCHT INF), receiving the bronze star and purple heart (17 Jan. 1945) at the battle of the Bulge. He returned and entered public service retiring in 1975 as the regional director of the department of labor under labor Secretary Peter Brennan. He moved to this area in 1958 coming from Chicago. Bob was a member of Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church in Seminole, Florida.
Bob was predeceased by his loving wife, Patricia Ann Burns (8/15/1921-9/28/2016) with whom he shared 75 years of marriage; his sister, Agnes Boehnert (9/9/1912-2/8/2007); his brother, James Joseph Burns (12/1908-1/14/1998), his sister, Mary MacDonald; his son, James C. Burns, Sr. (6/6/1953-11/20/2020); his sister-in-law, Donna Lantz; and his great-granddaughter, Jesse Leigh Mae White (11/1991-8/31/2007).
Bob is survived by his sister, Elinor Hekelnkaemper; his two daughters, Judith (Vigh) Burns and Nancy (Thomas) White; his 10 grandchildren, Stephen (Irene) Vigh, Jr., Teresa (Mark) Daigle, Rob (Kathy) Vigh, David (Tina) Vigh, Mike (Audrey) Vigh, Sr., Matt (Tammy) Vigh, Tom White, Jr. Donna White, Amanda Burns, James C Burns, Jr.; his 21 great-grandchildren, Charles “C.J.” (Ashley) Daigle, Tom White III, Gabrielle Vigh, Logan Vigh, Michele (Chris) Mixon, Kayla (Rich) Barry, Michael Vigh, Jr., Andrew Berry, Victoria Vigh, Kaitlin Berry, Garrett Vigh, Gavin Vigh, Cameron Vigh, Stewart Vigh, Sydney Vigh, Donna White, Danielle Drawdy, Morgan Cahill, Rylan Burns, Bryan Burns, and Madison Curtis; and four great-great-grandchildren, Haiden Daigle, Ava Daigle, Jackson Kratz and Willow Mixon.
The entire family is eternally grateful to Bob’s nephew, Paul Boehnert and his wife, Janet for their tireless sacrifice and dedication to Bob’s needs and comfort in his final days. Committal Services will be at Bay Pines National Cemetery, Bay Pines, FL on Wednesday, January 27, 2021 at 1pm.
Services will be livestreamed for those unable to attend. The virtual room will open 15 minutes prior to the service time. Visit: www.CentralBayMarket.com
The password is: Robert0200
