Kenneth Leroy Burns

Kenneth “Ken” LeRoy Burns, the son of Howard and Geraldine (Nelson) Burns, was born October 3, 1949, at the Green County Medical Center in Jefferson, Iowa and died June 26, 2020, at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, Nebraska at the age of 70 years, 8 months, and 13 days.

Ken was baptized and confirmed at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church in Audubon, Iowa. He attended Audubon Community Schools, graduating with the High School Class of 1967. On August 26, 1967, he was united in marriage to Jolene Bornholdt at the United Methodist Church in Viola Center, Iowa. They were blessed with two children: Marty and Traci.

Ken was employed at Melville Farms northeast of Audubon for a few years before he started farming with LaVerne Schmidt for 30 years and retired from farming in 1997. He then worked for the Guthrie County Secondary Roads Department as a Maintainer Operator for 20 years and also helped Dwayne Sunberg during planting and harvest season until he was forced to retire in November of 2017 due to his failing health.

Ken was an active member of Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church in Audubon for more than 50 years, serving as a greeter, coffee server, and videographer at the church. He was a long-time member of the Masonic Veritas Lodge No. 392 in Audubon. He enjoyed woodworking with his brother-in-law, Gary Lowe, and his grandsons. Some of his masterpieces included tables, jewelry stands, benches, and his first great-grandchild’s crib. Ken and Jolene loved to travel together. They went on many adventures with their children, grandchildren, and in-laws. A few of his most memorable trips included their 25th wedding anniversary trip to Jamaica, the Moab desert in Utah, and riding jet boats in the Wisconsin Dells. Sharing experiences with his family was very important to him. Ken was a quiet presence who was willing to help all. He was a great man who improved everyone around him without them even knowing.

Preceding him in death were his parents; his mother-in-law and father-in-law, Raymond and Virginia Bornholdt; his sisters, Jacklyn and husband Ron Hook and Jerilyn Burns; his brother-in-law, Gary Lowe; and his sister-in-law, Judy Burns.

Survivors include his wife, Jolene Burns of Guthrie Center, Iowa; his children, Marty and wife Constance Burns of Audubon and Traci Irlmeier of Council Bluffs, Iowa; his grandchildren: Zachary and wife Cassandra Cleveland of Bondurant, Iowa; Andrew and wife Brenna Irlmeier of Omaha, Nebraska; Amanda Irlmeier of Council Bluffs; and Jacob Burns and Amy Burns, both of Audubon; his great-grandchildren, Briley Cleveland and Kaiden Cleveland, both of Bondurant; his brothers and sister: Jack Burns of Glidden, Iowa; Karen Burns of Anita, Iowa; and John Burns of Emmetsburg, Iowa; his sister-in-law, Janell Lowe of Audubon; and nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Open visitation will be held on Monday, June 29, 2020 from 12:00 P.M. until 8:00 P.M. at the Kessler Funeral Home in Audubon. The family will not be present during the open visitation. A private family funeral service will be held at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church in Audubon with Pastor Dan Beattie officiating. Interment will be in the Maple Grove Cemetery in Audubon. The honorary casket bearers will be Amanda Irlmeier and Amy Burns. The casket bearers will be Zachary Cleveland, Andrew Irlmeier, Jacob Burns, Kevin Burns, Richard Lauritsen, and Tom Clarken.


*** Extended family and friends are welcome to join the livestream service on Tuesday, June 30, 2020 at 2:00 P.M. via Facebook at the KESSLER FUNERAL HOMES INC page. ***