Jerry L. Burns

Longtime Alaskan Jerry L. Burns, 68, passed away at home on March 6, 2015, following a five-year battle with cancer.

Jerry was born Jan. 27, 1947, in Pomeroy, Ohio, and grew up in West Virginia near Mason and the “Big Bend” country and was proud to be called a “hillbilly.” He joined the U.S. Navy at 17 and served three tours “in country” in Vietnam between 1965 and 1978. While serving with the Navy Seabees, he was a deep-sea salvage diver, underwater welding specialist, and underwater demolition specialist (UDT). He earned three Purple Hearts and a Bronze Star while in Vietnam, as well as numerous other awards and rose to the rank of Chief Warrant Officer 3/4.

He left the Navy in 1978 to live in Kodiak and work with the U.S. Coast Guard. He remained in Kodiak for 27 years, working as a maintenance contractor with the USCGS and as an independent fisherman with two boats, the F/V Echo and F/V Sounder. After leaving Kodiak, he lived in Fairbanks, Anchorage, Peter’s Creek, and Sutton. He was employed as a welder with Fort Knox Gold Mine and as a rigwelder on the North Slope, and built oil rigs for Pool Arctic and Nabors Alaska, before starting his own welding company, Burns & Burns Welding LLC.

Jerry loved fishing, hunting, camping and traveling the world, as well as good times with his many friends. He was a life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9926, in Mason, West Virginia, as well as the Vietnam Veterans of America. He also served as Past Commander of VFW Post 2509, Palmer.

Jerry is survived by his wife of 16 years, Jenness Ellett-Burns, of Sutton; four children from previous marriages, Chandra Burns (Anchorage), Amanda Burns-Johnson (Arizona), and Paul Burns II and Cassie Janz-Burns (Kodiak); seven grandchildren; and siblings, Richard Burns, Larry Burns, Edward Burns, Jon Burns, Cherie Rupe, Carla McKenny, Paula Burns, Janice Roush, Elizabeth Schoonover, and Susan Hall.

He was preceded in death by siblings Roger Burns, Douglas Burns, Gary Burns, and Sandra VanMetre.

Military interment of ashes is at noon, May 15, at Fort Richardson National Cemetery. A VFW ceremony and a celebration of life potluck begins at 5 p.m. at the Alpine Inn, Mile 61, Glenn Highway, Sutton.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the “Wounded Warriors Project” in memory of Jerry Burns, CWO 3/4, U.S. Navy.