Age: 86 years
Lifelong Two Rock Dairy Rancher and native Petaluman Herbert E. Burbank, Jr., a collector of antique farm equipment and classic Ford Thunderbirds, who enjoyed listening to polka music, passed away March 20, 2012, following a short illness. He was 86.
Born in Petaluma, Herb spent his entire life on the Two Rock Valley ranch established in 1922 by his parents, Herbert and Lilian Burbank. He grew up learning the dairy trade from his father as well as Salmon fishing out of Bodega and Tomales Bays. Together with his late sister Jeanne C. Burbank, he attended Bloomfield Grammar School. He was a 1943 graduate of Petaluma High School.
For many years he operated the family ranch along with his beloved late wife Edna Mae, who unhesitatingly pitched in and worked side-by-side with him on the dairy until she passed away in 1987.
A longtime member of the Antique Caterpillar Machinery Owners Club, he possessed a unique collection of tractors and earthmovers. He also collected classic Thunderbirds and was a lifetime member of the Thunderbirds of Sonoma car club. He had an avid appreciation for accordion music and was a regular Sunday night attendee at Little Switzerland in Sonoma and at the annual Cotati Accordion Festival.
Herb captivated all with his bright blue eyes and infectious smile.
Herb was the great-great-grandnephew of acclaimed horticulturalist Luther Burbank. In addition to his brother-in-law Henry (Twyla) Bahnsen of Penngrove, niece Denise Bahnsen Brown of Santa Rosa, his nephew, Duwayne (Lisa) Bahnsen of American Canyon, he is survived by numerous cousins and two grandnieces.
A Memorial Service will be held Saturday, March 31, 2012 at 3:00 p.m. at PARENT-SORENSEN MORTUARY & CREMATORY, 850 Keokuk St., Petaluma. Private Inurnment at Cypress Hill Memorial Park, Petaluma. Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Petaluma, 416 Payran St., Petaluma, CA, 94952.
Published in Petaluma Argus-Courier from March 29 to April 28, 2012
