Kenneth A. Burns

Kenneth A. "Curly" Burns, 82, of Williamstown, KS, passed away Wednesday, February 29, 2012.

He was born April 19, 1929 in Independence, KS, the son of Chester A. and Thelma C. (Holmes) Burns. He attended Silver Lake High School. He served in the U.S. Army during WWII.

Mr. Burns was an over the road truck driver for 27 years employed by Krupp Rubber.

He attended the 7th Day Adventist Church and was a member of the Golden Rule Lodge No. 90 A.F. & A.M. in Topeka.

Curly married Eleanor D. Thorp. They were divorced. He married Velma Jean Dutton Shultz on December 28, 1987 in Topeka. She survives of the home. Other survivors include a daughter, Kathy Kaesewurm, Overland Park, KS; three grandchildren, Crystal, Cora and Kathy; six great-grandchildren, Dez, Hailee, Willie, D'shayla, Kelsie and Andrew; two step-daughters, Carol Allred, Katy, TX and Myrna Carpenter, Nevada, MO; two step-sons, Joseph Shultz of Albuquerque, NM and Jonathan Shultz of Denver, CO; four step-grandchildren, Gus, Jakob, Mackenzee and Logan; and two sisters, Sally Rice, Topeka and Alice McKenzie, Alamo, TX. He was preceded in death by his parents and a son, Terry Edward Burns.

Funeral services will be 2 p.m., Wednesday, March 7, 2012 at the Penwell-Gabel Parker-Price Chapel, 245 NW Independence Ave, Topeka, KS 66608. Cremation will follow the ceremony. Curly will lie in state after 3 p.m., Tuesday at the funeral home where the family will receive friends from 7-8 p.m. Memorial contributions may be made to Jefferson County EMS, 1250 Walnut St., Oskaloosa, KS 66066.