Lawrence Joseph Burns
Lawrence Joseph Burns, age 84, died Monday evening, October 19, 2009, at the Meade District Hospital, Meade, Kansas. 
He was born March 5, 1925, at Fowler, Kansas, the son of Frank and Nora (Heitman) Burns.  As a young boy he attended the Fowler school system, graduating from Fowler High School in 1943.  Upon his graduation, he joined the United States Navy, serving his country during World War II until his discharge in 1946.  After his military service, he returned to Fowler and began his farming career.  In addition to farming, he worked for Natural Gas Pipeline Company of America for thirty years as a repairman. 
Lawrence was a member of St. Anthony Catholic Church, the American Legion, and a former member of the Knights of Columbus, all of Fowler. 
On June 17, 1946, he married Donna Lee Edwards at Fowler.  She precedes him in death on January 28, 1988.  On April 24, 1993, he married Betty Poe at Sacred Heart Cathedral, Dodge City, Kansas.  She survives. 
Other survivors include: Two sons, Larry Burns and wife, Mary Ann of Lake City, Colorado, Myron Burns and wife, Carma of Fowler, Kansas; Three daughters,  Janie Hudspeth and husband, Gene of Claremore, Oklahoma, Lu Ann Wetmore and husband, Dave of Dodge City, Kansas, Kris Bucher and husband, Mike of Salina, Kansas; Three stepdaughters, Cindy Fenton and husband, Kevin of Holcomb, Kansas, Donna Schell and husband, David of Ulysses, Kansas, Terri Trotman and husband, Jeff of Ulysses, Kansas; A brother, Clarence Burns of Great Bend, Kansas; Seventeen grandchildren and Eleven great-grandchildren.
He is preceded in death by his wife, Donna; parents; two sisters, Bertha Batt and Esther Hayes; and two great-granddaughters, Natalie Himes and Hannah Rose Burns. 
Vigil services will be held at 7:00 p.m. Thursday, October 22, 2009, at St. Anthony Catholic Church, Fowler.  Holy Mass will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m. Friday, October 23, 2009, at the church with the Reverend Angel Dy presiding.  Friends may call from 12:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. at Fidler-Orme-Bachman Mortuary, Meade.  Interment will follow in the Fowler Cemetery with military honors provided by the United States Navy.
The family would welcome memorials to the Lawrence Burns Memorial Fund for St. Anthony Catholic Church in care of the funeral home.
Personal condolences may be given to the family at www.fidlerormebachmanmortuary.com