Burns, Thomas 'Tom'

Thomas “Tom” Burns, 94, of Cosgrove, died at Lantern Park Care Center, Coralville, Monday, Dec. 26, 2011. Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 29, at St. Peter's Catholic Church in Cosgrove with Father Thomas Doyle officiating. Burial will be at St. Peter's Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at Lensing Funeral & Cremation Service, Iowa City, where the rosary will be recited at 6:30 p.m. and a Parish Vigil service will be held at 7 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Tom Burns Memorial Fund, St. Peter's Cemetery or Camp Courageous.

Tom was born Feb. 4, 1917, on the family farm near Cosgrove, where he spent his whole life. He was the son of William Patrick Burns and Mary Ellen Donohoe and had attended Cosgrove High School. On Jan. 5, 1944, Tom married Rita Murphy at St. Patrick's Church in Iowa City.

Tom was a lifelong Cosgrove area farmer and was employed with University of Iowa Campus Security for many years, retiring in 1982.

He was a longtime member of 4H, loved to travel and was an avid fan of Hawkeye athletics, especially the Iowa Women's Basketball team.

Tom is survived by his loving wife of 68 years, Rita; and their seven children, Virginia (Jim) Cram of Coralville, Frances Burns of Iowa City, Roberta Reed of Cedar Falls, Patrick (Becky) Burns of Cedar Rapids, Phylis Burns of Pompano Beach, Fla., Philip (Linda) Burns of Kansas City, Mo., and Dennis (Denise) Burns of Lucasville, Ohio; eight grandchildren, Bill Cram, Kris Strauch, Scot Reed, Amber Reed, Natalie DeFord, Angie Tower, Brad Burns and Matthew Burns; four step grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren; his sister, Eileen (Jim) Leland of Solon; and numerous nieces, nephews and extended family.

Tom was preceded in death by his parents; two grandchildren, Ryan and Sue Ann; two brothers, Justin and Edward; and two sisters, Anna Kathryn and Patsy.

Online condolences may be directed to .

Published in The Gazette Dec. 27, 2011.