James "Jim" D. Burt

Burt, James Dewey of Bloomington, MN and Mesa, AZ passed away peacefully in his own home surrounded by family and friends on Sunday, May 21, 2023. Jim was born on July 11, 1929 in Beloit, WI, son of Dewey and Nora Mae Burt. He grew up on Medicine Lake where he enjoyed kayaking and sailing at a young age without a lifejacket and did not know how to swim, but said he could save himself. He enlisted in the Airforce in 1949 due to his love of aviation and our country where he served proudly through the Korean War. Jim met and married the love of his life and high school sweetheart, LaVonne Joyce, and they were married in 1951. They travelled and lived in many places while serving their country and enjoyed the new experiences and friends they met. They settled in Bloomington, MN where they had their three children; Robin Lee, Thomas James and Timothy John who he adored and blessed them with his appreciation for the outdoors, nature and MN Lakes, which is why waterskiing became a family favorite sport. He was recruited by State Farm and started the first agency in West Bloomington and loved all his customers as if they were family. In 2009, his beautiful wife passed away after almost 58 years of marriage and it changed him forever, but he always felt so blessed by his life and what he was given. He started volunteering at Fairview Southdale Hospital to give back for the great care they gave LaVonne. Shortly after, he met Patti Tarnowski and they began a new life together in Mesa, AZ. They were both very active and had many friends and were always on the go. He again started volunteering for the local hospital as well as for the church to help raise money for special causes, and was very proud to be giving back as he felt so blessed with the life he was given, as he always said "It was a miracle". He loved the AZ life especially the different flowers and trees. He loved to pick all the grapefruit off the tree even if it meant the very highest one even into his 90's and then would send them back to his children. He always complimented and praised his children for how proud he was of what they had all accomplished as well how proud he was of his grandchildren. They were all his pride and joy!! He got to know Patti's children and family as well throughout their fourteen years together and enjoyed all of them as well. He loved life and the opportunities he was given and had a strong faith with a Christian base and read the entire bible seven times. He had a deep passion for reading as he also has read thousands and thousands of books and at times would be reading two - 300 page novels at the same time and not get them mixed up....he could finish a novel in a few days. Jim was a one-of-a-kind human and loved all aspects of life and learning. He will be greatly missed for his kind soul and how he made everyone he met feel special. He had a beautiful smile and such compassion for others that affected everyone that crossed his path and never had a bad word to say about anyone anytime and never complained and was always a POSITIVE INSPIRATION!!!!! He will be dearly missed by his three children; Robin (Dennis) Pottebaum, Tommy (Denise) Burt and Tim Burt, of New Jersey, seven amazing grandchildren Rochelle (Matt) Fischer; Jimmy (Sara) Robertson; Dr. Ashleigh (Robert) Burt; Gracie Burt; Alex (Jacquelyn) Burt; Hannah ( Aaron) Hatrick ; Emma (fiancée Conner) Burt and four awesome great-grandchildren; Locklyn, Colton and Dawson Fischer; MaKenna Robertson; and his loving partner, Patti Tarnowski and her children, grand-children, family as well as the many friends that loved him. Preceded in death by his wife LaVonne, his parents Dewey and Nora Mae; LaVonne's parents, Harold and Rachel Strand; brother, Gene Burt; Aunt Alice and Uncle Henry who helped raise him, and many more family members and friends. A heartfelt thank you to all the staff at the Veterans Hospital and hospice staff that took care of him in his final days to keep him comfortable and pain free. A very special thank you to Tania Royal who was like an angel who cared for him with all her heart and soul. A celebration of life for Jim will be on what would have been his 94th Birthday, July 11, 2023 at Washburn-McReavy Funeral Home, 2300 W. Old Shakopee Road, Bloomington, MN 55431. Visitation 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 am; service 11:00 am -11:45 am; Escort will take guests to Fort Snelling National Cemetery where a military salute service will be presented in Jim's honor for his country.

Tributes

James "Jim" D. Burt

July 11, 1929 - May 21, 2023

Tributes

James "Jim" D. Burt

July 11, 1929 - May 21, 2023

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