Robert Joseph Burns

Robert Joseph Burns Seattle - Robert Burns, beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, and friend, died at the age of 76 on May 27, 2023 in Quilcene, Washington where he was celebrating Memorial Day weekend with family. Known to his family as "The Fun Master," Bob was a trial lawyer by trade, an excellent conversationalist, a wise and thoughtful advisor, a curious citizen of the world, an encourager extraordinaire, a classy dresser, a lover of music and live concerts, a big-hearted optimist, and a man who exemplified the art of living well. He delighted in his large network of friends and family and because of them, often declared "I am the richest man in the world."

Robert Joseph Burns was born on September 3, 1946 in Sioux City, IA. Bob was the first born of five children to Robert and LaVerne Burns and the family moved to Yankton and then Sioux Falls following his father's coaching career. He graduated from O'Gorman High School in 1964 and attended the University of South Dakota, where he served as the Rush Chairman for the Delta Tau Delta Fraternity. He earned his bachelors degree and then his Juris Doctorate in 1973.

He was a member of the South Dakota Bar Association for 50 years and in 1992 was voted "Trial Lawyer of the Year" by his peers. He generously volunteered with Lawyers Concerned for Lawyers. Bob served in the South Dakota State Legislature and was always committed to making the world a better place.

On June 7, 1968 Bob married Susan Carmen Markley and they raised four children together during their 43 years of marriage. Active and social in Sioux Falls and St. Mary's Church, Bob was easy to like and highly respected. A member of Rotary West in Sioux falls for decades, he and Susan hosted many Rotary International exchange students. He was so proud when his children each went on their own Rotary exchange year and he enjoyed visiting Patrick in Australia, Sarah in Turkey, Mary Ellen in Denmark, and Matthew in Belgium. He served on the Bob Burns Dakota Bowl Committee for many years and enjoyed football games, tailgating, and cheering for the O'Gorman Knights. Bob was a founding member of the Monsignor Doyle Book Club running now for 30+ years. He especially loved spending time at Lake Okoboji, his happy place, enjoying sunset cruises and pulling kids on water skis behind his boat named Afternoon Recess.

Bob met Laurie McDowell in 2012 and they spent 10 years creating happy memories together in Minneapolis and Tulsa, OK.

In 2022, he moved to Seattle to be closer to family and there, in a delightful twist of fate, he met and fell in love with Karen Sprague. Despite the declining health of his lungs, Bob always had a joke to share with friends, questions to ask his grandchildren, a team to cheer, and a positive attitude. He chose to focus on the people and the experiences that brought him happiness.

Grateful to have shared his life are Susan Markley Burns, Laurie McDowell, and Karen Sprague; four children, Patrick Robert Burns (Paula Peterson Burns) of Minneapolis, MN, Sarah Elizabeth Burns (Christian Amott) of Seattle, WA, Mary Ellen Brewick (Andrew Brewick) of Moscow, ID, and Matthew Charles Burns (Rebecca Thom Burns) of Taos, NM; nine grandchildren, Liam Richard Burns, Fiona Mary Burns, Finnian Robert Burns, Xavier Rhys Amott, Georgia Elizabeth Amott, Mabel Markley Brewick, Evelyn Rees Brewick, Anouk Diana Burns, and Ode Arcadia Burns; brothers James Burns, Steven Burns, and sister Kathleen Burns. Robert was proceeded in death by his parents Robert Geering Burns and Alice LaVerne (Drabek) Burns, brother John Burns, and infant son Brian Markley Burns.

A Funeral Mass and Celebration of Life will be held at St. Mary's Church in Sioux Falls, SD on Friday, June 23 at 10:30 AM, followed by a luncheon. Memorials can be directed to Rotary International https://my.rotary.org/en/donate or The Banquet in Sioux Falls https://thebanquetsf.org/wish-list.