John "Moose and Turbo" Melville Burns
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John's obituary
In Loving Memory of John Melville Burns
January 20, 1951 – June 8, 2025
Syracuse, Utah
John Melville Burns, 74, of Syracuse, UT, passed away on June 8, 2025, after complications from Parkinson’s Disease. He was beloved as a husband, dad, “grampy,” brother, uncle, and friend.
John was born on January 20, 1951, in Ann Arbor, Michigan to the late Robert “Bob” and Patricia “Pat” Burns and grew up in Michigan alongside his brother Robert “Bob” and sister Nancy. He studied engineering at Purdue University in Indiana before moving to Southern California and transferring to California State University, Fullerton, to study art. John graduated with a Master of Fine Arts.
He met the love of his life, Jane Harrington, in an art class at Cal State Fullerton, and after a year of dating they married on April 26, 1975, and began their lifelong journey together. Their marriage was a beautiful partnership filled with love, laughter, and quiet resilience. John and Jane celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary this year.
Together they raised three children, Laura Burns, Amanda Nelson, and Daniel "DJ" Burns. Their family was joined by Amanda's husband Tyler and DJ's wife Lauren, and they were blessed with four granddaughters, Avery Nelson, Cora Burns, Savannah Nelson, and Finley Burns. John and Jane created a home grounded in care and adventure. John especially cherished family trips exploring the beaches, mountains, and national parks of California. Yosemite National Park held a special place in his heart, and his ashes will be spread there.
John worked in manufacturing and in the plastics industry, for products as varied as office furniture, dog igloos, and structural foam plastic products. Before retiring at 62, he was the Chief Operating Officer at DCO International, Inc., an innovative recycling company focused on developing plastic formulations for reuse to help reduce landfill waste.
A devoted husband, father, and grandfather, John was known for his kindness, wisdom, and unwavering presence. John maintained his love of the arts and was an avid woodworker in his early retirement. He had a passion for movies, dining out, tending to his immaculate yard, and always having a new house project on the horizon. Even as Parkinson’s gradually took its toll, John met each day with strength, dignity, and positivity, inspiring those around him.
John’s legacy of love, perseverance, and humor lives on in the hearts of his family, friends, and all who knew him. We are grateful for all of the love and support that we have received during this time. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly asks that donations be made to support Parkinson’s research—so that others may face a future with greater hope. Donations to honor the memory of John M. Burns may be sent to The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research.
We also invite you to share any stories or photos that you have of John. We would love to reflect with you on the memories of his life.
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