On Friday, July 20, 2018, Allan “Al” Claire Burns, surrounded by his children, passed away at the age of 87 years. He leaves behind his wife, Dorothy Burns; his children, Bonnie (Gerry Stillwell) Burns, Terri (Gerry) Ehlert, Robert (Grace) Burns and Barbara (Suheel Bashir) Burns; his grandchildren, Shauna, Erin, Ria, Taylor and Blake; six great grandchildren, Brooke, Cale, Katherine, Siri, Roan, and Kian; and his brother-in-law, Warren Sibbet. He was predeceased by his wife of 63 years, Doris “June” Burns (nee Allen), on September 2, 2014; his parents, Charles and Anne Burns (nee Pearce); his brothers, Ron and Barry, and his sister Gayle. Al was born in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan and spent his early years on the family farm north of Regina. After his family lost the farm during the Great Depression, they moved to Regina, Saskatchewan and then to Medicine Hat for high school, where he was the captain and quarterback of the football team. It was in Medicine Hat that a young, newly brush cut Al met his future wife, June, on a blind date. Despite their shyness at first, they danced the night away and were married on February 5, 1951. While living in Medicine Hat and Hanna, Alberta, Al worked as a field engineer for PFRA. The family moved to Winnipeg in 1957 for his work with Ducks Unlimited, where Al would work for nearly 30 years. They returned to Alberta in 1976, when Al became the provincial manager for Ducks Unlimited. They lived in the Edmonton area for many years, before moving to Kelowna and, finally back to Medicine Hat in 2012. Al was a natural storyteller who loved to share his rich life with friends and family, telling them about growing up in the Great Depression in Saskatchewan, the struggles of his childhood, his work in Northern Manitoba and Saskatchewan, and his adventures living on the Canadian Prairies – his stories ranged from going out to work as a young boy, to remortgaging his house to build a community centre and hockey rink in Fort Garry, Winnipeg, to his experiences coaching his children in sports. He will be remembered for his strong moral code and work ethic, his unwavering loyalty to friends and family, his love of hockey, and his work within his community, church and the Masons. A celebration of Al’s life will be held in Medicine Hat at the PATTISON CHAPEL on Saturday, August 11, 2018 at 1:00 p.m. Interment will follow at Hillside Cemetery. As an expression of sympathy, donations may be made in memory of Al Burns to the Medicine Hat & Region Health Foundation at www.myhealthfoundation.ca. To e-mail an expression of sympathy, please direct it to: pattfh@telusplanet.net subject heading: Al Burns, or you may visit www.pattisonfuneralhome.com and leave a message of condolence.

• Date : 2018-07-20
• Location : Medicine Hat, Alberta

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