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Robert Burnham Obituary
Robert Burnham
May 18, 1934 - May 25, 2025
Robert Lynn Burnham, age 91, of York, Neb. passed away Sunday May 25, 2025 in York, Neb. He was born May 18, 1934, to Harry "Ted" and Dessie (Harris) Burnham in Syracuse, N.Y.
He graduated from York High School in 1952. He participated in football, track and basketball as well as York Legion baseball. He attended the University of Colorado and University of Nebraska. He and his father operated T&R Construction Co. They did land leveling and built earth dams in York and surrounding counties. He was united in marriage to Barbara Jean Geis on June 28, 1956, at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in York. This union was blessed with five children. They later divorced.
On August 28, 1956 he was inducted into the United States Army and attended basic Training at Fort Leonard Wood (Missouri). He served at Camp Drum (New York) where he was part of the 20th Engineer Battalion. Bob was Honorably Discharged on August 27, 1958 with the rank of Staff Sargent
In 1959 he joined Geis Motor Co and served as Vice-President and General Manager. During his employment at Geis Motor Co he was awarded Chevrolet Motor Division's highest selling honor and earned membership in Chevrolet's "Legion of Leaders." In the following years he earned multiple sales awards. Bob owned two other dealerships in Ogallala, Neb. and Julesburg, Colo. He served as Sales Manager for his son Bart at Acme Motor Company in York until his retirement.
Bob will be remembered for the love of his multiple Basset Hounds and how he enjoyed talking cars and trucks with everyone.
Left to cherish his memory is his life partner of 35 years, Irene Duncan of York; his sons, Bret (Joan) Burnham of York and Bart Burnham of Fremont; daughters, Becky (Terry) VanHousen of Polk, Roberta "Bobbie" Burnham of Minneapolis, Minn. and Brenda (John) Myers of Agoura Hills, Calif. Grandchildren, Lindsay (Nate) Hoffman, Mattie (Josh) Scheeter, Sean Burnham, James VanHousen, Katie (Justin) Daffer and Stella Myers. Great-grandchildren, Wyatt Burnham, Nash and Tallulah Hoffman, and Paisley Daffer.
Also surviving is Irene's daughter, Susan Zysset; her grandchildren, Keaton (Aubri) Zysset, Jayden (Chrystal) Zysset and Tanner Gibb. Great-grandchildren, Kayden, Arian, Evee and Jade Zysset; and a host of friends. He was preceded in death by his parents and infant brother.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m., Friday, May 30, 2025 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in York with the Reverend Father John Sullivan officiating. No Rosary is scheduled. Private burial will be held at a later date at Ansley, Neb. Visitation will be from 1 to 8 p.m. Thursday with his family greeting friends from 5 to 7 p.m. that same evening at the mortuary in York. Memorials may be directed to the York Adopt-A-Pet or York Public School Foundation.
Metz Mortuary in York is handling arrangements.
Metz Mortuary
May 18, 1934 - May 25, 2025
Robert Lynn Burnham, age 91, of York, Neb. passed away Sunday May 25, 2025 in York, Neb. He was born May 18, 1934, to Harry "Ted" and Dessie (Harris) Burnham in Syracuse, N.Y.
He graduated from York High School in 1952. He participated in football, track and basketball as well as York Legion baseball. He attended the University of Colorado and University of Nebraska. He and his father operated T&R Construction Co. They did land leveling and built earth dams in York and surrounding counties. He was united in marriage to Barbara Jean Geis on June 28, 1956, at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in York. This union was blessed with five children. They later divorced.
On August 28, 1956 he was inducted into the United States Army and attended basic Training at Fort Leonard Wood (Missouri). He served at Camp Drum (New York) where he was part of the 20th Engineer Battalion. Bob was Honorably Discharged on August 27, 1958 with the rank of Staff Sargent
In 1959 he joined Geis Motor Co and served as Vice-President and General Manager. During his employment at Geis Motor Co he was awarded Chevrolet Motor Division's highest selling honor and earned membership in Chevrolet's "Legion of Leaders." In the following years he earned multiple sales awards. Bob owned two other dealerships in Ogallala, Neb. and Julesburg, Colo. He served as Sales Manager for his son Bart at Acme Motor Company in York until his retirement.
Bob will be remembered for the love of his multiple Basset Hounds and how he enjoyed talking cars and trucks with everyone.
Left to cherish his memory is his life partner of 35 years, Irene Duncan of York; his sons, Bret (Joan) Burnham of York and Bart Burnham of Fremont; daughters, Becky (Terry) VanHousen of Polk, Roberta "Bobbie" Burnham of Minneapolis, Minn. and Brenda (John) Myers of Agoura Hills, Calif. Grandchildren, Lindsay (Nate) Hoffman, Mattie (Josh) Scheeter, Sean Burnham, James VanHousen, Katie (Justin) Daffer and Stella Myers. Great-grandchildren, Wyatt Burnham, Nash and Tallulah Hoffman, and Paisley Daffer.
Also surviving is Irene's daughter, Susan Zysset; her grandchildren, Keaton (Aubri) Zysset, Jayden (Chrystal) Zysset and Tanner Gibb. Great-grandchildren, Kayden, Arian, Evee and Jade Zysset; and a host of friends. He was preceded in death by his parents and infant brother.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m., Friday, May 30, 2025 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in York with the Reverend Father John Sullivan officiating. No Rosary is scheduled. Private burial will be held at a later date at Ansley, Neb. Visitation will be from 1 to 8 p.m. Thursday with his family greeting friends from 5 to 7 p.m. that same evening at the mortuary in York. Memorials may be directed to the York Adopt-A-Pet or York Public School Foundation.
Metz Mortuary in York is handling arrangements.
Metz Mortuary
Published by York News-Times on May 28, 2025.
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