Obituary of William L. Burns, Jr.
William L. Burns, Jr.
“Bill”
Age 91, a lifelong Joliet resident, passed away peacefully Wednesday, November 14, 2018, at his late residence. Born June 7, 1927, he was the son of the late William L., Sr. and Minnie (nee Lauer) Burns.
Bill is survived by his loving wife of 65 years, Theresa (nee Mikolic) Burns; his children, William “Bill” (Mary) Burns III, Patricia (Bill) Pedersen and Nora (John) Primiano; grandchildren, William “Billy” (Melinda) Burns IV, Matthew (Michelle) Burns, Zak Pedersen, Anna (Chris) Budvitis, Gina (fiancé Jerry Bell) Primiano and Mark (Rebecca) Primiano; great-grandchildren, Samantha Burns, William “Will” Burns V, Ethan Burns and Elise Burns; his sister-in-law, Vicki Hodgman; one cousin, Dan (Sandy) Lauer; and several nieces and nephews.
Bill was a man of language; he taught French, German, Spanish, Russian, Latin and English as a second language. He also learned his wife’s native tongue, Slovenian.
Bill graduated from Joliet Township (JT) High School in 1945 and graduated from Joliet Junior College (JJC) in 1947. With only a two-year degree in his pocket, the township superintendent offered him a job teaching grades one through five in a one-room schoolhouse in Beecher. While teaching, Bill continued his education and completed his Bachelor of Arts degree from DePaul University in 1952. He immediately pursued and was granted his Master of Arts from the University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana in 1953. He then began teaching languages at JT and teaching a few courses at JJC. In 1963, Bill took a sabbatical from JT and relocated his family to Montpellier, France for a year of culture immersion and continued education. Upon their return to Joliet in 1964, Bill began teaching full time at JJC. He led the foreign language department at JJC until his retirement in 1984.
Bill enjoyed cooking, grilling and sipping on a fine wine. He bowled regularly into his 80s, loved crossword, Sudoku and other types of puzzles, and was tough to beat in Trivial Pursuit.
A Memorial Gathering for Bill Burns will be held on Monday, November 26, 2018, at Holy Family Catholic Church, 600 Brook Forest Ave., Shorewood, from 10:00 a.m. until time of Mass of Christian Burial being celebrated at 11:00 a.m. As it was Bill’s request, cremation rites have been accorded. Private inurnment will be held at St. Joseph Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials in his name to Joliet Area Community Hospice or to the charity of the donor’s choice would be appreciated. For more information, please call 815-741-5500 or visit his Memorial Tribute at www.fredcdames.com
