Ardell Ray Burns

Ardell (Del) Ray Burns was born in Burbank, Ca. After 84 wonderful years, he passed into the arms of Our Lord in Heaven after a rough, yet courageous battle with a stroke. He was the first born to Elsie Rempfer Burns and Edward Franklin Burns. They moved to Lodi in 1947 when his dad got a job with Art Wisner as a carpenter. They built their home in the Wisner Track where Ardell grew up loving the country life of the surrounding vineyards riding his Cushman Scooter with his dog, Fanny, hunting, fishing & swimming in the nearby canal. He attended Woods School in Woodbridge and graduated from Lodi High School in 1958 where he played football and enjoyed Vocational Education and Agriculture Classes. He attended Stockton College for 1 year then signed on with the US Navy. He loved traveling the waters, the Ports and the lands of the world. His dear Navy buddy and longtime friend Larry Houston called him "Tony the Tourist" because off he went to sight see while the boys were off to the Pleasures of the Young Sailors
It was on leave in Lodi where he met the love of his life, Marilyn Krause, at a wedding. Upon discharge he returned to Lodi and wanted to get married, Marilyn's dad got him a job at General Mills. They married on May 16, 1964. Two yrs. later they moved to Stockton as Del entered the Electrical Trade Apprenticeship
Program at Stockton College. He completed the 2-year Trade program in 1 year as his G.l. Bill was cut short due to his age, yet he graduated Top 3rd of the Class and was placed at Sherman Electric in Lodi.
That same year he and Marilyn returned to Lodi and bought their Country Home in East Lodi Off Kettleman Lane which they owned for 47 yrs. He was then in Heaven on Earth living in the 1920's old Rempfer Family Home which they restored, and he was back playing in HIS OWN Vineyard this time with his dog and raising their 2 children, Leanna and Tom. Del felt blessed that while the early grape growers sold their grapes through the Co-Ops; he obtained a contract with Gallo Winery for his Lodi Flame Tokay Grapes while their Old Vine Zinfandel and Alicante Grapes were shipped via local Packing
Sheds to the East Coast Home Wine Makers. Meantime his Electrical Career moved him to Bockmon Electric in Stockton for 13 years, while he got his Contractors License and opened Tokay Electric, named after his grapes, and was wiring commercial and Industrial Projects. During this time the kids were in college so on a weekend outing to Lake Tahoe he & Marilyn bought an adorable log cabin on N/S Lake Tahoe. His love for Tahoe began on their honeymoon at S/Shore Lake Tahoe. Later they enjoyed
W/Shore with many family outings and the kids learned to snow ski at Homewood.
While as a contractor, Del took a 2–3 week job at UOP running Fiber Optics which became a 2-3 year job. By this time the kids had finished college and were launched, so he and Marilyn closed Tokay Electric. Driving around Northern California and Reno, Nevada looking for work, Del found work at Mills Hospital in San Mateo, six months later Marilyn joined him. Upon completion of the hospital work, he took a job wiring an addition to SFIA, he then moved on to BART coming from San Francisco to Millbrae SF Airports.
During their 13 year stay in San Mateo, Ardell & Marilyn started traveling a whole lot as they were only a $20 cab ride from the airports. They traveled all over America, Canada, Hawaii, Alaska, Europe, Cozumel, Australia, New Zealand and Israel. Feeling the retirement call, he and Marilyn returned to their country home again and took back their North Shore Lake Tahoe Cabin which they enjoyed for 30 years.
Ardell is survived by his daughter Leanna (Kevin) Elmes, son Tom (Debbie) Burns; Grandsons Cedar Burns and Luke Burns, his brother Dennis (Carol) Burns, brother-in-law Del (Susie) Kause, and sister-in-law Karen Krause. Life was always a good ride, Ardell loved his God, his family, and church in both Lodi and N/Shore Lake Tahoe. He slid into retirement at ease doing what he loved. Mostly working in HIS OWN vineyard, fishing at Tahoe with friend Steven Holloman and traveling to "Get Away" as often as he and Marilyn could. He really did not care where they went, he just "Loved to get away". He was known as a kind and gentle man, treating others as he would like to be treated.
Del enjoyed being a member of SIRS, the ELKS Club in Woodbridge, especially the summer car shows as he still had Great Pleasure with his and Marilyn's first car which they bought together, a 1965 GTO. They drove it until it had served its purpose and was retired to storage. Many years later in 2011 Del had it restored and drivable again as a fun car. He also enjoyed with Marilyn the Lodi Garden Club, LAVA and Bocce. He will be missed yet leaves us with many Loving and Blessed Memories,
A Celebration of Life will be held on Monday, August 11, 2025 at 11:00 a.m. at First Baptist Church in Lodi.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to either First Baptist Church 267 N. Mills Ave. Lodi, Ca. 95242 or Christ The King P.O. Box 6449 Tahoe City, CA. 96195