Obituary: Winnebago County, Wisconsin: Oramon W. Burns ************************************************************************ Submitted by Kathy Grace, December 2004 © All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm ************************************************************************ Winneconne Local January 25, 1917 p.1 Obituary of Dr. O.W. Burns Died-At his home in Winneconne, Wednesday afternoon, January 17, 1917, Dr. O.W. Burns, at the age of 66 years due to heart trouble. Deceased was born in Washington, Maine, where he spent his boyhood days and received his school education. His mind run to medicine of doing good for humanity, and his location of residence appeared to him as the west. Accordingly he entered Dartmouth College of Medicine at Augusta and received a diploma for the practice of medicine and surgery. Immediately afterward he embarked for Wisconsin and cast his lot in Winneconne. He later took post-graduate course at Bellevue hospital, New York. Shortly after arriving here his widow attracted the doctor, and on July 24, 1882, he and his bride, Miss Elizabeth Krohn, were united in the bonds of matrimony, more than thirty-four years ago. During this time and up to one year ago the doctor cared for the ill and discomforted in a very dutiful manner. Many, many times his strength was taxed considerable from constant calls in the village and in the country adjacent- times when means of conveyance were inadequate for the needs of the people- from patients who would bear their pains with optimistic thoughts of their family doctor who would soon brighten their firesides and lighten their hearts and relieve their minds of future ill health and restore their former health. Thirty-five years ago is but a short time for one to look back to, but it is a long, long time when one tries to enumerate the hard trials for lack of modern inventions. And in doctors' lives especially, the horse, the former method of travel would now be considered the impossible, excepting on very rare times. But in the days of Doctor Burns, the day of peoples' carelessness, the days of epidemics, the days of illness not being reported in time, the days of less science and research- the days of more hard work for the doctor in the line of difficulty in reaching patients as soon as he would like to- those hardships of the past now recollected by the vast number of the late Doctor Burns, former patients in years gone by, all lay wreaths of consideration and appreciation to his memory, memories that will never die. He was a man who was loved by all who knew him, ever willing to render a helpful band in the "scatterer of good seeds" to all in adversity or trouble. He felt that all life's work is summed up in the future- the future everyone is to face, and no one knows how soon. About one year ago Dr. Burns was not noticed so frequently on the streets. Illness had come to him- he was to be among the number of incurables- because his heart was weakening from overtaxed conditions. The doctor was compelled to admit sickness- serious illness- and until the past summer he did not resume active practice and then mostly in cases where people demanded his services- and he continued to work as long as he could stand the strain. Last Wednesday afternoon about four o'clock, he was sitting at his desk with thoughts of some of his patients on his mind, when he reached for his medicine bottle, but before he could reach it- and gain assistance- his life was no more. Without a struggle, without a pain, he was found by his wife lifeless. He died while at his life work. It was a great shock to his life's helpmate, and it shocked the doctor's many friends, but the reward of life's good work had appointed him for the place of future life and "rest in peace". Doctor Burns was a member of the Masonic Lodge, I.O.O.F., Rebekahs and Modern Woodmen. The funeral was held under the direction of the Masonic Lodge Sunday from the house at 1:30 and at the Presbyterian church at 2:00 o'clock, when, owing to the illness of Rev. Albert, Rev. Andrews of Omro officiated at the last sad rites. Deceased leaves to mourn his loss, his widow, a sister and brother, Nettie Robinson and J.L. Burns of Washington Maine.