Elizabeth Burns

Elizabeth Jenny Wilson Burns died at home Sunday, July 7, 2024. Her husband of 46 years, Chuck Burns, was at her side at the time of her passing.

Liz was born May 12, 1957, in Sioux City, Iowa, and was raised in Omaha, Nebraska.

Liz was a loving member of the Cape Girardeau community since 1996. Her life was filled with laughter and card games, most of which she won. She could nap anywhere and loved to find shapes in clouds. She enjoyed music, sharing her view of the world through her paintings and spending time with family and friends. She lived with conviction and intense love. She had a passion for teaching and giving to others.

Liz discovered her love for education while volunteering at summer camps for special needs children. She pursued a career in special education, earning her bachelor's of education from the University of Nebraska-Omaha in 1979. Liz worked as a special education teacher full time for several years and finished her career working as needed as a substitute for the Cape Girardeau School District.

Liz was a wonderful homemaker and mother to three children, Sara Burns, Chelsea Burns Pipkin and Jake Burns. She was the proud grandmother of Ezekiel Boyd Pipkin and Lucy Pepper Burns Rosenbluth, and stepgrandmother to Kaitlyn, Logan and Chloe Pipkin.

Liz was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease later in life. This brought many challenges and changes, but she retained her positive and cheerful outlook.

She is survived by Bernard Charles “Chuck” Burns III, Sara Burns (Jesse Rosenbluth), Chelsea Burns Pipkin (Thomas Pipkin), Jake Burns (Megon Rousseau), Ezekiel Pipkin, Lucy Pepper Burns Rosenbluth, Kaitlyn Pipkin, Logan Pipkin and Chloe Pipkin; and her siblings and their spouses, Julie Wagie (Cal Wagie), Nancy Wilson, Mark Wilson (Mary Wilson), Bob Wilson (Beth Wilson), Patrick Wilson (Jenny Wilson) and Mike Wilson.

Liz was preceded in death by her mother, Betty Lee Mullen Wilson; father, Jack Voris Wilson; brother, Jack Wilson Jr.; mother-in-law, Dorothy Mae Burns; and brother-in-law, Matthew Lee Burns.

Her vigil service after cremation will be from 4 to 6 p.m. Friday, July 12, directly followed by prayers and rosary, at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church, 1913 Ritter Drive in Cape Girardeau.

Memorial Mass will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, July 13, at the church, followed by a meal.

Donations may be made to the Michael J. Fox Foundation via www.michaeljfox.org/.

Flowers may be sent directly to St. Vincent's.

McCombs Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Jackson is in charge of arrangements.

Online condolences may be sent to the family by clicking on the tribute wall tab above Elizabeth’s obituary at www.mccombsfuneralhome.com.