April 8, 2021 at 9:24 p.m.
Donald Eugene Bur
Don was one of the few children in his family who graduated from high school. He went on to Michigan Technological Institute in Houghton, Mich., where he studied forestry management. During a summer break spent at the University of Michigan Biological Station he met his lifelong love of 58 years, Mary Janet Kennedy. After college, Don joined the U.S. Army and served as 2nd Lieutenant in San Francisco for three years. During his service Don and Mary were married at St. Mary's Chapel in Ann Arbor, Mich. After finishing his active service in the U.S. Army he took his wife to La Crosse. This is where he started his work for the Department of Natural Resources. He later transferred to Boulder Junction, where he found his love for the Northwoods. He continued his work for the DNR for a total of 41 years. Boulder Junction is where Don and Mary raised six children, and made their home for 46 years.
Walking through the woods was second nature to Don. The Northwoods is where he showed his children the beauty of wild flowers, virgin pine trees, hunting, ice fishing and plenty of canoe trips on winding rivers and sitting around the campfire. During berry season, Don took his kids and picked buckets of blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, and blackberries. He helped coach his son’s baseball teams and loved watching and playing the game himself. Don and Mary were members of St. Anne Catholic Church where Don ushered nearly every Sunday. Don was also a charter member of the Boulder Junction Lion’s Club, founded in 1972, for which he served as president for two terms. Don was very involved with the Boulder Junction Public Library, as he loved to read. He was also an active member of the American Legion Post 89 in Minocqua. During his retirement, Don enjoyed helping people for many years volunteering at the Howard Young Medical Center.
Don was loved by his family and friends and especially his many, many, many nieces and nephews that affectionately called him “Uncle Donny.”
Don was preceded in death by his parents, siblings, and wife. He is survived by his children, Michael, Stephan (Mary Talend), David (Lorrie Ritchie), Daniel (Luzia Tavares), Ann (Bruce Markuson), Kathryn (Edward White) and his 17 grandchildren.
Don’s family would like to extend a special thank you to the staff at Laurel Oaks Senior Community in Glendale, Wisc., and Virginia Highlands in Germantown, Wisc. Their loving care of our father was especially appreciated during this difficult time.
Our dad was a soft-spoken and gentle man. He enjoyed the company of people in his community and said “Hi” to everyone he met and was always thankful for all that he had in his life. Don’s family invites all who wish to honor our beloved dad, to make donations to Trees for Tomorrow at treesfortomorrow.com or Catholic Relief Services Worldwide at crs.org, or simply plant a tree in his honor.
Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at a later date. Feerick Funeral Home in Milwaukee is assisting the family, 414-962-8383, www.feerickfuneralhome.com.
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