Howard Francis Burns

It is with profound sadness that the family of Mr. Howard Francis Burns, age 89 years, announce his passing at the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre on Wednesday, May 21, 2025.

Howie was born in Port Arthur, Ontario on June 17, 1935, the son of Frederick and Nina Burns and was a lifetime resident of the area. As a young man, he enjoyed participating in a variety of sports and for many years held the SSSAA high school Triple Jump record. He shared his passion for athletics with his children, coaching baseball teams, giving pointers for track and field events, and never missing a baseball or football game, track and field event or skating competition. In later years, he was also very supportive of his granddaughters’ activities, proudly attending every dance performance, theatre performance, piano recital, and school play.

Howie had a passion for cars, whether racing stock cars, repairing his multitude of cars and motorcycles, or following Formula 1 Racing. He was always working on projects around the house and in the garage, and it was said that if there was a tool out there that he didn’t have, it was because it hadn’t been invented yet. As a young man he worked various jobs before joining Air Canada where he worked for 35 years, on the ramp and as a Station Agent. A benefit of his career was that it enabled him to spend much time travelling with his family.

Howie will be lovingly remembered and dearly missed by his wife Julia, son Jeffrey, daughter Jennifer (Peter) Myllymaa, granddaughters Katia, Raija and Ava Myllymaa, sister Vera Burns, sisters-in-law Amy and Iris Baranowski as well as by numerous nieces, nephews and other relatives across Canada, the U.K. and Australia. He was predeceased by his parents Frederick and Nina Burns, brother Donald, sister-in-law Lois and nephew Brian Burns, father-in-law Michael Baranowski, mother-in-law Paulina Baranowski, brothers-in-law Michael, John, Daniel and William Baranowski, sisters-in-law Mary, Olga, Nettie, Pauline and Irene Baranowski, Irene Dick, Stella Ball, and Anne Cutts, nieces Leanne Ball and Mitzi Dick, and nephew Danny Baranowski.

The family would like to thank the staff of 3A and ICU, as well as Dr. Lubbers, Dr. Laferriere, Dr. Simpson, Dr Ward, Dr. Debakker and Dr. Dykstra for their support, care and compassion during Howie’s final month in Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre. We are also incredibly grateful to the Physicians, Nurses, PSWs and Physiotherapists at St. Joseph’s Care Group for the care, empathy and encouragement offered to our dad during several stays in St. Joseph’s Hospital over the past two years.

A celebration of Howie’s life will be held on Tuesday, June 3, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. in the Sargent & Son Funeral Chapel, 21 N. Court Street, with Rev. Nancy Ringham presiding. The inurnment will take place at Riverside Cemetery. Those wishing to attend the services online may do so via the Sargent & Son Facebook page. As expressions of sympathy, memorials to the St. Joseph’s Foundation of Thunder Bay or a charity of your choice would be gratefully appreciated.

Online condolences may be made at www.sargentandson.com.