William George Burns, 89, died on March 20, 2025. , in New Braunfels, Texas.
Bill was dedicated to serving the church, his community, and his country, as a pastor, chaplain, teacher and counselor. He was instrumental in establishing and overseeing many missions throughout his career and his retirement and often did the hands-on work as well. He truly believed that we should be the “hands and the feet of the Lord”.
He was proud that he began his military service as a private and retired as a full colonel. As in the rest of his life, Bill relied on the Lord who had called him to serve as a chaplain both in the military and at the veteran’s hospital and to serve as pastor to several congregations. He was always quick to acknowledge the many highlights and rewards to being a military chaplain and working with so many people trying to make the military community a better place.
Bill was born on Jan. 5, 1936, to Richard and Luella Burns in Iowa City. He was the 4th of 8 children in the family. In 1945, his folks bought a 160-acre hill farm, outside of Mount Pleasant, Iowa, that did not have power lines coming through the area. Those were difficult days as money was scarce. He became a famer at age fourteen when his brothers graduated from high school because his father was a chemist but did not know much about farming. Bill graduated from Mt. Pleasant High School in 1954.
Bill finished ROTC and was commissioned as 2nd Lieutenant in the Reserves upon graduation from the University of Iowa in 1959. He went on to study at Eden Theological Seminary in St. Louis, Misouri, where he graduated in 1963 and was ordained in the United Church of Christ. Bill was called to pastor churches in Rowan, and Red Oak, following his ordination.
In 1963, Bill became involved in the civil rights movement and spent time in Mississippi and Alabama where his group disputed the myth of “separate but equal” schools and helped with voter registration. Along that path he met with the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and several other leaders in the movement. In 1965, when the march at Selma, Alabama, was brutally put down, Bill went to Selma representing the Iowa Conference of the United Church of Christ and marched with Dr. King and the people of the movement.
In 1966, Bill volunteered for active duty as a military chaplain answering the call that his church denomination needed chaplains in Vietnam. He served in Korea, on the DMZ, and Vietnam. He earned a purple heart while serving with soldiers in the field in Vietnam. During his service, he earned a purple heart while serving with soldiers in the field in Vietnam. During his service, he earned a Master’s Degree in Counseling and left active duty with the rank of Major, in 1975.
Bill returned to Iowa and taught at Iowa Wesleyan College, in Mount Pleasant, as an assistant professor. He directed a mandatory six-credit hour course that required every student to be involved in Responsible Social Action project until he left the school in 1982. His career changed again as he became involved in the financial service industry, teaching and helping people reach their financial goals. Throughout this time, he continued his connection with the military with a reserve unit.
In 1984, Bill returned to Eden Theological Seminary to earn his Doctor of Divinity and the Army Reserve was still a big part of his life. He graduated in 1986 and accepted the call to pastor a church in Baxter. Three years later, he moved to Texas, accepting a call to hospital chaplaincy at Audie Murphy VA Hospital in San Antonio while he continued serving in the Army Reserve in Iowa. Bill was called back to active duty for Desert Storm, serving at Fort Sam Houston. He retired from the US Army chaplaincy in 1992 as a Colonel.
Awards: Legion of Merit, Bronze Stars (3), Purple Heart, Meritorious Service Medal, Commendation Awards (2), Achievement Awards (4).
Bill married Mona Marie Alschleger in Iowa in 1956. They had three children together: Allen, Michael and Kathryn. Bill and Mona separated in 1982 and divorced several months later.
Bill married Frances Schroeder Larson in Burlington, Iowa, in 1984. This brought two step-children into Bill’s life: Melissa and Eric. Bill and Florence’s marriage was based on a life of serving the Lord and giving their lives to mission projects. After graduation they moved to Baxter, where they served a church for three years. In 1989, they moved to San Antonio, Texas and later lived in Round Rock and New Braunfels.
Bill is survived by his wife of New Braunfels; children Wm. Allen Burns (Roxana) Saint Paul, Minn., Dr. Michael Burns (Anna) Riverside, Kathryn Levin (Mitchell) Cedar Rapids, and Melissa Larson, Cedar Park, Texas; eight grandchildren and thirteen great-grandchildren; sister, Lu Anne Becker (Alan) Ft. Atkinson; sister-in-law Glenda Burns, Richmond, Vir. and Nancy Schroeder, Mt. Carroll; and brother-in-law Edward Schroeder (Linda) Los Altos, Calif.
Bill was preceded in death by his parents, his six brothers; Richard, John, Dan, Jerry, David and James and his step-son Eric Larson.
Funeral arrangements are with Lunning Chapel, Burlington. A public visitation for Bill will be held Friday evening, March 28 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Lunning Chapel and Saturday, March 29 from 10 to 11 a.m.
The funeral service will be Saturday, March 29 at 11 a.m. at Lunning Chapel. Burial will be in Aspen Grove Cemetery, Burlington. The Burlington Area Veterans Honor Guard will render full military rites.
A celebration of life will be held on April 12 in New Braunfels, Texas at Faith United Church of Christ at 12:30 p.m.