Wilfred Eugene "Pete" Burns

"Pete" Burns of Willows, CA, went to be with God and his beloved deceased wife, Rene, on Friday, January 7, 2022, at Crystal Ridge Care Center in Grass Valley, CA, at age 93 1/2, after a series of serious medical issues during the past four years.

Pete was born on February 17, 1928, in Alliance, Ohio, and raised there with his twin brothers by his mother, Margaret Burns. He married his one life-long, loving wife, Maureen "Rene" Burns, on June 26, 1948, in Louisville, Ohio, where they began raising their six kids. While raising their family, they resided in Ohio, Cupertino, and San Jose. After retiring, they lived in Rancho Tehama, Stonyford, Utah and finally Willows, CA.

Pete left behind a long line of people thankful to have known this genuine, hard-working, gentle, and generous man. Pete never knew a stranger. He provided for his wife and children through plain hard work and simple living.

He was a very frugal man. He never threw anything away if there was any chance it could be fixed and re-used, and he could fix anything! He may not have been great at spelling or math, but he knew how much a dollar was worth. He never claimed to be perfect or expected praise, just did his outright best as a husband, father and friend.

Pete would not claim to have accomplished a lot of great things in his life, but there were many in the eyes of his children, friends, past co-workers and other family members. By being the man he was, he accomplished great things each day while trying to provide, teach, mold, volunteer and lead by example.

Pete exemplified the words, "giving of one's time". He helped build the first Volunteer Fire Department in Fairhope, Ohio, where he served as Fire Chief for several years where Rene also served as fire dispatcher. He possessed a passion for volunteering for fire departments, services, Search and Rescue, etc. wherever he lived that continued well into his late 80's.

He was the guy who stopped to help if there was a car stranded on a roadway. He never wanted anything in return. The gratification of helping someone is all he ever wanted. He may not have realized just how much of an example he was to his children. They watched, they listened, they learned. Now they teach and try to follow in his footsteps, huge shoes to fill.

Pete was also a big hero! His proudest accomplishment took place while living in Tehama County, California, in January 1993. He assisted in the rescue of three young boys who were trapped in the freezing, swift moving flood waters of Elder Creek on the evening of the January 7th. He entered the freezing waters to secure the three boys until additional help could arrive. He never really thought much of it. It was his duty and his honor to always serve his communities. Subsequently, Pete was recognized by the Board of Supervisors for bravery above and beyond the call of duty. And, as it turned out, that day is now also the anniversary of his passing.

He showed his love by his actions. He didn't shower his family with hugs, kisses and "I love you's". He didn't buy expensive gifts or take the family on fancy vacations. Instead he showed his affection by providing, giving his children the tools and teachings to be survivors, and showing them how to best utilize available resources.

In Ohio, during the summer he took the family boating and swimming to a popular lake called Lake Milton where they learned to love the water and boating. He also made time, after moving to California in 1965, to take his boys fishing either at the Sacramento Delta or on his old boat he fixed up. Pete loved to fish.

Pete may have been a simple man, but he was a giant of a man to those who had the honor of knowing him. He will be so dearly missed by all. His generosity, strength, love, time, talents, patience and endurance will live on and be passed down in his family forever. May he rest, worry-free and comfortable at last, in peace in God's arms and with his wife and dogs.

The family will plan to hold a private memorial for Pete.

Please send donations, in honor of Pete Burns to the Willows Fire Dept. Auxiliary, 445 E. Butte St., Willows, CA 95988. Pete expressed this desire often during his last few months, as the recent California fires have diminished fire-fighting resources significantly, or please support your local fire department in honor of Pete.

Please write your tribute to Pete in the guestbook online at Legacy.com