Richard A Burnson

Richard Arntzen Burnson, of Shoreview, Minnesota, lost an eleven year battle with carcinoid cancer (aka neuroendocrine tumors) Tuesday, July 5, 2016 at St. Joseph's Hospital in St. Paul. Born in Pequot Lakes, Minnesota, August 25, 1945, he was the youngest child of William A Burnson and V. Beatrice (King) Burnson. Dick grew up in Pine River, Minnesota and was educated in the Pine River school system, where he lettered in baseball and basketball, played clarinet in the band, and was active in his church youth group. He then attended the University of Minnesota and followed his older brother's footsteps into pharmacy, graduating in 1968. While at the University, he was a member of the University of Minnesota Marching Band and was active in the Alpha Tau Omega fraternity. Following his graduation from the University, he married Faye Farquharson. They had two children, Christopher and Jennifer. This was during the Vietnam era, so Dick enlisted in the US Air Force, where he reached the rank of captain. His final assignment was as Chief Pharmacy Officer at the Grand Forks Air Force Base in Grand Forks, ND. Following his discharge from the Air Force, he attended graduate school at North Dakota State University and received a Master of Science in Pharmacy in 1975. He then took a pharmacist position with the VA Hospital in Miami, Florida. After working for the VA for several years, he went to work for Walgreens. He retired from Walgreens in January of 2013 after 28 years of service with the company. He moved back to Minnesota in 2001, and in 2002, he married his college sweetheart, Bonita ("Bonnie") Halfmann Schiemann. As a couple, they enjoyed traveling to Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Cancun, Aruba, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland, England, Russia, Poland, Latvia, Estonia, Germany, Switzerland, France, Italy, Croatia, Greece and to many parts of the United States. Since Dick's retirement in 2013, they spent their winters in Arizona and summers in Minnesota. Dick was an avid sportsman. In high school, he played basketball and baseball. He "walked on" to the University of Minnesota baseball team, but his career was ended by a shoulder injury. In later life, he became an excellent tennis and golf player. He was also a gifted musician who had played the clarinet, saxophone, piano and guitar since high school. During his time in Florida, he played in a band with his older brother, Bill, which experiences formed some of his fondest memories. He enjoyed spending time with his fraternity brothers, former pharmacy classmates and his family and was known for his repertoire of jokes. During his brief retirement, Dick volunteered at the St. Vincent de Paul Ministry at the Basilica of St. Mary, served as a contact person for the local and national Carcinoid Cancer support groups, and was honored by the ATO Foundation for his help in raising money for college scholarships. Left to grieve his passing are his wife, Bonnie; daughter, Jennifer (Adam Quagliano); son Christopher; step-daughter, Jennifer Schiemann; sister, Diane (Andy Carter); and two granddaughters, Mia and Shay Quagliano; plus many cousins, nieces and nephews. Visitation will be held Monday, July 11, at 11:00 a.m., followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 12 noon, at THE BASILICA OF SAINT MARY;88 N. 17th St., Minneapolis. Interment will follow on Tuesday, July 12, at 11:00 a.m., at Ft. Snelling National Cemetery (meet in assembly lane #3). Memorials to The Carcinois Cancer Foundation at www.carcinoid.org

Tributes

Richard A Burnson

August 25, 1945 - July 5, 2016

Tributes

Richard A Burnson

August 25, 1945 - July 5, 2016

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