1935
James
2020
James D. Burrows
August 17, 1935 — August 15, 2020
James David Burrows died on August 15, 2020, at age 84, surrounded by family at his home in St. Peters, Missouri.
Jim was born on August 17, 1935, in St. Louis, Missouri, and was raised by his loving foster parents, Albert and Ida Koch, on their farm in Catawissa, Missouri. When Jim was a teenager, he moved with the Kochs to South St. Louis. In 1954, he graduated from Hadley Technical School, where he studied drafting. During his high school years, he enjoyed exploring all that the city had to offer and especially enjoyed going to the Casa Loma Ballroom.
From 1955 to 1958, he served as an Electrician’s Mate in the United States Navy. He was stationed in Long Beach, California, and worked on a minesweeper. He received a Good Conduct Medal in 1957. From 1958 to 1961, he served in the United States Naval Reserves. He also earned an associate’s degree.
He returned to St. Louis in 1965 and worked as a draftsman at Emerson Electric, where he met his future wife, Bonnie Landsbury. They were married on May 30, 1968. Jim also worked at Kroger, Gruendler, McDonnell Douglas, Boise Cascade, and Nooter Boiler. He retired from Nooter in 1998.
Jim is survived by his wife, Bonnie Lee Burrows; his children, Joy (Mike) Clemis (Snowflake, Arizona), Linda Tate (Boulder, Colorado), James Burrows (Lancaster, California), and Julia Burrows (St. John, Missouri); grandchildren, Crystal (Nate) Bootsma, Brian Dickson, and Michael Clemis; great-grandchildren, Scarlet Bootsma and Lindsay Bootsma; sister- and brother-in-law, Louise and Greg Overbey; sister-in-law, Daisy Schlechter; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his foster parents; his four brothers, Charles Burrows, Richard Burrows, Phillip Burrows, and Robert Burrows, and his sister, Lila Jones; his son, Louis David Tate; his grandson, Kevin Burrows; and his son-in-law, James Rebman.
Jim was a quiet man with a keen sense of humor. He attended monthly reunions of Hadley Technical School at Miss Sheri’s Cafeteria in South St. Louis; traveled across the country to reunions with his navy buddies; and went on many trips, including trips to Ireland, England, Alaska, and Hawaii and a trip on the transcontinental Canadian railroad. He enjoyed family vacations to Memphis, Tennessee, and the Outer Banks of North Carolina.
Jim was a longtime member of Chapel of the Cross Lutheran Church in St. Peters, Missouri. He served in the National Guard and was a member of the American Legion Post 388.
His family will always remember how much he loved his beagle, Toby, and how he enjoyed playing poker with his brothers and sister and their families, working jigsaw puzzles, rooting for the St. Louis Cardinals, and making barbecued pork steaks and hamburgers for the family. He took well-deserved pride in his many home projects.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Missouri Baptist Children’s Home, where Jim and his siblings lived before they were taken in by foster families. MBCH is located at 11300 Saint Charles Rock Road, Bridgeton, Missouri, 63044, www.mbch.org.
Jim’s smile was genuine and heartfelt, and all who loved him will miss seeing it and hearing his laugh.
Jim was born on August 17, 1935, in St. Louis, Missouri, and was raised by his loving foster parents, Albert and Ida Koch, on their farm in Catawissa, Missouri. When Jim was a teenager, he moved with the Kochs to South St. Louis. In 1954, he graduated from Hadley Technical School, where he studied drafting. During his high school years, he enjoyed exploring all that the city had to offer and especially enjoyed going to the Casa Loma Ballroom.
From 1955 to 1958, he served as an Electrician’s Mate in the United States Navy. He was stationed in Long Beach, California, and worked on a minesweeper. He received a Good Conduct Medal in 1957. From 1958 to 1961, he served in the United States Naval Reserves. He also earned an associate’s degree.
He returned to St. Louis in 1965 and worked as a draftsman at Emerson Electric, where he met his future wife, Bonnie Landsbury. They were married on May 30, 1968. Jim also worked at Kroger, Gruendler, McDonnell Douglas, Boise Cascade, and Nooter Boiler. He retired from Nooter in 1998.
Jim is survived by his wife, Bonnie Lee Burrows; his children, Joy (Mike) Clemis (Snowflake, Arizona), Linda Tate (Boulder, Colorado), James Burrows (Lancaster, California), and Julia Burrows (St. John, Missouri); grandchildren, Crystal (Nate) Bootsma, Brian Dickson, and Michael Clemis; great-grandchildren, Scarlet Bootsma and Lindsay Bootsma; sister- and brother-in-law, Louise and Greg Overbey; sister-in-law, Daisy Schlechter; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his foster parents; his four brothers, Charles Burrows, Richard Burrows, Phillip Burrows, and Robert Burrows, and his sister, Lila Jones; his son, Louis David Tate; his grandson, Kevin Burrows; and his son-in-law, James Rebman.
Jim was a quiet man with a keen sense of humor. He attended monthly reunions of Hadley Technical School at Miss Sheri’s Cafeteria in South St. Louis; traveled across the country to reunions with his navy buddies; and went on many trips, including trips to Ireland, England, Alaska, and Hawaii and a trip on the transcontinental Canadian railroad. He enjoyed family vacations to Memphis, Tennessee, and the Outer Banks of North Carolina.
Jim was a longtime member of Chapel of the Cross Lutheran Church in St. Peters, Missouri. He served in the National Guard and was a member of the American Legion Post 388.
His family will always remember how much he loved his beagle, Toby, and how he enjoyed playing poker with his brothers and sister and their families, working jigsaw puzzles, rooting for the St. Louis Cardinals, and making barbecued pork steaks and hamburgers for the family. He took well-deserved pride in his many home projects.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Missouri Baptist Children’s Home, where Jim and his siblings lived before they were taken in by foster families. MBCH is located at 11300 Saint Charles Rock Road, Bridgeton, Missouri, 63044, www.mbch.org.
Jim’s smile was genuine and heartfelt, and all who loved him will miss seeing it and hearing his laugh.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of James D. Burrows, please visit our flower store.
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