Senator Robert J. Burns View All Years

ROBERT J. BURNS

Robert J. “Bob” Burns was born on August 22, 1922, in Iowa City to John and Regina Cash Burns. He married Ada M. Wilson on June 15, 1944, in Muskogee, Oklahoma. On January 24, 2001, he passed away in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, at the age of 78 years. Those left to cherish his memory are three sons, Michael of North Liberty, Stephen of Iowa City, and Tony of Marion; four daughters, Linda Langenberg of Marion, Sheila Kavanaugh of Eliot, Maine, Margery Burns of Iowa City, and Maureen Laxpati of Chicago; one sister, Alice Kral of Phoenix, Arizona; and twelve grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

In 1940, he graduated from Cosgrove High School and attended the University of Iowa before enlisting in the Army. He served in World War II as a sergeant in the 42nd Rainbow Division. He attended the University of Kansas while he was in the military.

In 1964, he was elected to the Iowa Senate from Johnson County. He served from 1965 until 1968, through the 61st and 62nd General Assemblies. Senator Burns served nine years on the Johnson County Board of Supervisors where he worked to expand human services that are offered to children, juveniles, and persons with mental health and developmental disabilities. He worked to expand a county transportation system for older citizens. He promoted cooperation between the state, county, cities and towns and helped develop a land use plan within the county to emphasize the wishes of the public for orderly development and beauty. Another of his interests was the preservation of the courthouse and the first county asylum.

Senator Burns and his family were long-time Cosgrove residents where they operated a Cosgrove store until 1966 when they moved to Iowa City. Senator Burns owned and operated County and Municipal Consultants and was a labor negotiator. In 1975, Senator Burns was selected to the President’s Advisory Committee on Intergovernmental Relations.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE SEVENTY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF IOWA: That in the passing of the Honorable Robert J. Burns, the State has lost an honored citizen and faithful and useful public servant, and that the Senate by this resolution expresses its appreciation of his service to the State and tenders its sympathy and kindest regards to the members of his family.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: That a copy of this resolution be spread upon the Journal of the Senate, and that the Secretary of the Senate be instructed to forward an enrolled copy to the family of the deceased.

JOE BOLKCOM

ROBERT E. DVORSKY

THOMAS L. FIEGEN

Committee