A single candle burns in the window of James L. Burns, 87, lifelong resident of Lorain, who died Wednesday, April 6, 2011 at home in the arms of his loving wife of 52 years, Mary Joan (Donahue). He was born November 15, 1923 to James Dewey and Rosalind (Halm) Burns.

A 1941 graduate of St. Mary’s High School, Mr. Burns worked as a turret lathe operator at American Crucible before entering into honest and faithful service to his country as a member of the Army of the United States in May of 1943, serving in the campaigns of Normandy, Northern France, the Rhineland and Ardennes of Central Europe. He was awarded the Good Conduct Medal, the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaigns Medal, five Bronze Stars, and the World War II Victory Medal, and was honorably discharged in December of 1945.

People to Jim were simply friends he had yet to meet, and with his easy going and welcoming attitude, countless good and faithful friends were there with him throughout his life wherever he worked and roamed. He may be remembered by many for his years spent at Lorain Electronics Corporation where he worked as an electronic technician diligently repairing and/or replacing the two-way radio equipment for the Great Lakes merchant ships and for the numerous local law enforcement departments until his retirement in 1987. He volunteered his time assisting with fundraising efforts at BINGO for Lorain Catholic High School where those around him quickly became new friends of his, attracted by his shy smile, warm personality, and the twinkle in his Irish eye.

A quietly devoted man who truly put his trust and devotion in his God, Jim was born into the Catholic faith as a member of St. Mary’s Church of Lorain, continuing there as a member until he joined the family of the Catholic Church of St. Peter in 1962. True to St. Peter’s mission of being “a catcher of men,” Jim sent his children to St. Peter’s Catholic School and then Lorain Catholic High School to become educated in the Catholic Doctrine, increasing as he did so his family of friends and faithful a hundredfold.

Mr. Burns’ hobbies and interests, in addition to people, included being an avid fan his daughter’s Irish dancing, and his Irish culture in general. He cherished being a fan of his grandchildren’s sports activities, gardening, and was interested in anything electronic. A man of much faith and hope, Jim was also a devout fan of the Cleveland Indians, and taking St. Peter’s doctrine to heart, he loved fishing as well.

With the love and laughter of his life, the warmth of his heart, and peace and plenty to bless his world, Jim left behind many assured that his God holds his in the hallow of his hand, including his devoted wife of 52years, Mary Joan (Donahue), his children Ann (Dennis) Tracy, Barboursville WV, Mary Jo (Richard Barnicle) Burns, Lorain, Matt (Teresa Moyer) Burns, Washington D.C., Patrick (Kathryn) Burns, Oberlin, Timothy J. Burns, Avon Lake, Peggy (Gerard) Formholtz, Lorain, Maureen Burns Figueroa, Lorain, and Meaghan Burns( Roger Benavides), of Lorain; grandchildren Alexander J Figueroa, US Navy, USS Boone, Michael Figueroa, Amherst, Elizabeth Figueroa, Lorain, Samuel and Joseph Formholtz, Lorain; brothers David (Betty) Burns, Lorain, John Burns, Amherst, sisters Mary Alice Wagner, Amherst, Joan (Ted) Pienoski, Amherst, Celine (Donald) Rumpler, Lorain, sister-in-law Anne Burns, Amherst, and many loving nieces, nephews, grand-nieces and nephews.

Those who went before Jim to light his path include his parents James Dewey & Rosalind Agnes (Halm), brother Charles, sister-in-law Patricia Burns, brother-in-law James Wagner.

His family welcomes his friends to reminisce and say goodbye on Sunday, April 10, 2011 at the Dovin and Reber Jones Funeral and Cremation Center, 1110 Cooper Foster Park Road, Amherst, from 2:00- 6:00 p.m. Closing prayers will be held on Monday, April11, 2011 at 9:00 a.m. in the Funeral Center followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at St. Peter’s Church, 3655 Oberlin Ave, Lorain, at 9:30 A.M. Rev. Fr. Craig Hovanec, Pastor will officiate. Interment will follow in Calvary Cemetery, Lorain.

We would like to thank Dr. Juan Solis and staff, Dr. David Joyce and staff, and all of Mr. Burns’ countless caregivers on 1 West and 1 South at Mercy Hospital/Regional Medical Center in Lorain for all of their kindness and compassion showed to Jim and his family during past year.

His family also requests that memorial contributions be made to New Life Hospice for their kindness of the past week, and to St. Peter’s School, Lorain for their continued dedication to education in the Catholic faith.

Online condolences may be left for the Burns family at www.dovinreberjones.com