07/26/2019
John S. Burnett was born November 24, 1936 in Marion County, Iowa the son of John Carl and Elreta May (Smith) Burnett.
He was raised on his family’s farm in the Knoxville area. John graduated from Knoxville High School with the Class of 1955. Following high school, John attended and graduated from Simpson College.
On August 3, 1958, John was united in marriage to Judy Popma at the First United Methodist Church in Knoxville.
John and Judy have made Knoxville home for most of their married life. John was inactive Army Reserves for six months and served for six years. He worked for Northwestern Bell for 25 years and retired in 1986 as a Staff Manager – Executive Budgets.
He also worked on his family farm in the evenings and weekends until 1985. John worked as a Senior Utility Analyst for the Iowa Utilities Board for 12 years after he retired from Northwestern Bell.
John and Judy enjoyed traveling to their home in the Springfield Community of Chandler, Arizona for the last 18 years.
A favorite family activity was boating, John and Judy started with a small runabout and eventually had a large pontoon. They spent many weekends on the lake and camping with the children and grandchildren.
John was also active with his boys in the scouting program for many years. He was an avid reader, his interest ranged from scripture to non-fiction, thrillers and western novels. John’s pride and joy was his family and he greatly cherished his wife, children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
John passed away Friday, July 26, 2019, at Iowa Lutheran Hospital, in Des Moines, at the age of 82 years.
In addition to his parents, John was preceded in death by his son, Scott, and two sisters: Molly Beth and Mary Louise.
Those left to honor John’s memory include his loving wife of 60 years, Judy; sons: Todd of Knoxville and Jeff (Christine) of Chandler, Arizona; grandchildren: Chad (Kiara), Katie, Christopher (Natalie), and Madison; great-grandchildren: Lexy, Raegan, Greyson and Christopher, Jr., and many other family members and friends.
A funeral service for John S. Burnett, age 82 of Knoxville, will be held Thursday, August 1, 2019, at 10:30 a.m. at the First United Methodist Church. Burial will follow in the Lincoln Cemetery.
The family will receive friends from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Wednesday at the Bybee & Davis Funeral Home.
Memorials may be made to the First United Methodist Church.