Dr. Deland J. Burns

Dr. Deland J. Burns, age 89, went to his reward peacefully, on April 11th, 2016 in his rural Bourbonnais home in the company of his loving family. Beloved husband of Diana, nee Ofinowicz-Dunn; loving father of Dr. Steve (Susan) Burns of Kankakee, IL, Jeanne (Fred) Capriotti of Bourbonnais, IL, Robert (Judy) Burns of Downers Grove, IL, Anna Burns of Deerfield, IL, Patricia (Mike) Letton of Custer Park, IL, Bonnie (Bill) Bodemer of Bourbonnais, IL, Thomas (Montse) Burns of Celra, Catalonia, Spain, Andrew (Dianna) Burns of Henderson, NV and Megan (and the late Mike) Hoskins of Bourbonnais, IL; proud grandfather of Laurie, Brian, Tony, Clara, Jimmy, Kevin, Kyle, Me-lei, Michael, Drew, Kristen, Lauren, Caitlin, Dylan, Breanna, Luke, Bela and Emma; great-grandfather of Kaylee, Damien, Rosalee and Josilynn; survived by brothers Dr. William Burns of Kankakee, IL, and Judge Patrick Burns of St. Anne, IL; preceded in death by his brothers and sisters, Thomas Burns, Anne Kaineg, John Burns, Dr. James (Mac) Burns, Catherine Brinkman, Dr. Robert Burns, Joanne Fischer. Dr. Burns was born December 6th, 1926 of Annie Laurie Gernon Burns and Judge James Thomas Burns. Deland attended Saint Patrick’s Grade School and Kankakee High School, graduating in 1944. He joined the Navy in 1944 and served on a PT Boat toward the end of WW II. After leaving the service, he attended Saint Ambrose College in Davenport Iowa, then attended medical school at Stritch School of Medicine at Loyola University in Chicago, graduating in 1954. Deland met his wife Diana, a nurse, whilst interning at Los Angeles County General Hospital, marrying her on November 12th 1955 in Whittier, CA. He then set up General Practice in Whittier, California after which he pursued a residency in pathology beginning at the University of Illinois, Chicago, and completing at Harbor General Hospital, UCLA. He returned home to Kankakee in 1964 and practiced pathology at Riverside Hospital for a number of years. After attending University of Chicago as a resident in Ophthalmology from 1968-1971, Deland set up a long running Ophthalmology practice with offices in Watseka, Kankakee and Bourbonnais, retiring in 2011. He was one of the founders of the Kankakee County Health Department. An avid outdoorsman, enjoyed skiing, sailing, swimming, windsurfing and running. But most of all, he enjoyed the quiet life of a country gentlemen, managing his property on Davis Creek in Bourbonnais. He was a mentor and teacher to all and will be missed dearly. Visitation will be at Clancy-Gernon Funeral Home, Bourbonnais from 4-8pm on Thursday, April 14th 2016. There will be a funeral mass on Friday, April 15th at Maternity BVM Church, Bourbonnais, IL at 11am. Memorials may be made to Hospice of Kankakee Valley or to Maternity BVM Church. Interment will be held at Maternity BVM Cemetery, Bourbonnais, IL. Memorials may be made for Hospice of Kankakee Valley - www.hkvcares.org or to Maternity BVM Church - www.mbvmchurch.org

Dr. Deland J. Burns

December 6, 1926 - April 11, 2016