June Rose Burns [nee Huecker]
June Rose Burns [nee Huecker], 92, of Dodgeville, formerly of Platteville, died on Thursday, Nov. 19.
She was born on Nov. 12, 1923 in Mt. Prospect, Ill., to Richard and Amanda (Linnemann) Huecker. June graduated from Arlington Heights Township High School, Ill. in 1941. She married James J. Burns (Jim) on Feb. 17, 1945 in Brooklyn, N.Y., ten months before Jim was discharged from the Navy. They resided in Wheeling, Ill. where they had three children, Theresa, Alexis and Daniel. June worked as secretary for the University of Illinois Extension Office in Rolling Meadows, Ill. She was also a 4-H leader.
June and Jim embraced camping and sharing their joy of the outdoors with their three young children. The family spent their vacations in Canada camping on an island for two weeks. While walleye fish was the main catch, Jim once caught a 5 pound bass, which June stuffed it and baked it their Coleman stove-oven. Shorter camping trips on long weekends took the family to many spots in Illinois and southern Wisconsin. In the wintertime, June loved to ice skate and toboggan with her family.
June enjoyed golfing with Jim at the Lancaster Country Club. In 1967 the family and friends built the Burns vacation-retirement home - an A-frame structure. After retirement they moved to Glen Haven. She was busy gardening, sewing, quilting, knitting and crocheting. She was a Master Gardener in Illinois and Wisconsin, loved arranging flowers and took many floral design classes. She enjoyed her grandchildren by taking them on outdoor adventures. June was happiest being outdoors watering her flowers, feeding the wild birds and enjoying the fresh air.
After Jim died on Aug. 17, 1991, she moved to Platteville. Her yard soon became filled with lovely flower beds. She enjoyed being involved with the Senior Center and shared many of her floral arrangements there. She always dressed nicely and loved wearing jewelry. June was a great supporter of her daughter, Theresa’s and granddaughter, Nicole’s horse activities. She was always setting out food for any stray cat. She adopted several cats during her lifetime. With her daughter Alexis’ encouragement, June started sewing blankets for cats and dogs that were awaiting adoption or visiting the vet clinic. She has sewn about 5500 blankets and sent them to veterinary clinics and humane societies in Southwest Wisconsin and Iowa. In addition, she has made many quilts that are treasured by her family.
Surviving are her two daughters, Theresa Burns (Harley Weyer), Perry, Iowa, and Alexis Burns of Prairie du Chien; a granddaughter, Nicole McDonald (Tim McDonald) of Mineral Point; grandson, Matthew Burns; and great-grandson, Daniel Burns, of Ogdensburg.
She was preceded in death by husband, James J. Burns; son, Daniel G. Burns; grandson Daniel J. Burns; brother Norbert Huecker; and sister, Bernice Breining.
Memorial services will be 3:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 12, at the Melby Funeral Home & Crematory, Platteville, with a time of lunch and fellowship to follow. Rev. Michael Short will officiate. Friends may call from 12 p.m. until the time of service at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Rivers and Bluff Animal Shelter, PO Box 42, Prairie du Chien, WI 53821, or the Iowa County Humane Society, 305 County Road YZ, Dodgeville, WI 53533. Online condolences may be made at www.melbyfh.com.
