Jack Burnett

CHAFFEE, Mo. -- Jack T. Burnett 78, of Sikeston, Mo., and formerly of Chaffee, died Monday Sept. 3, 2001, at John Pershing Veterans Administration Hospital in Poplar Bluff, Mo.

Jack was born March 29,1923 at Chaffee, the son of Harvey and Jessie Marie Litzelfelner Burnett. He married Mildred Rose Schlitt Graviett on May 13, 1978, at Sikeston.

Jack joined the Citizen Military Training Camp in St. Louis, Mo.,, on Aug. 3, 1939. In December 1940 it was nationalized into the 138 Infantry of St. Louis, and was mobilized at Camp Robinson where he received his basic training. He was sent to Alaska where he served 11 months. He returned to the states to enter OCS at Fort Benning Ga., upon completion he was an instructor in Infantry Training at Fort Fennin, Texas. He then joined the l0th Mountain Division in Colorado, and with this Division he was sent to Italy where he served 10 months. While serving there he was wounded and received the Purple Heart. He was awarded the Silver Star Medal for gallantry in action. He was discharged Nov. 7, 1945, from active duty, remaining in the National Guard. Other citations and decorations received were Combat Infantry Badge, EAME Ribbon with 2 Bronze Service Stars, ATC Ribbon and World War II Victory Medal.

He was recalled to active duty Nov. 12, 1950, to serve in the 2nd Infantry Division in Korea. While serving in Korea he was wounded and received his 2nd Purple Heart. On April 20, 1950, he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for Heroic Achievement. He was discharged from active duty on March 6, 1952, receiving the Distinguished Unit Citation, Combat Infantry Badge with a star and Korean Service Medal. He remained in the National Guard until June 18, 1958, when he was discharged from the Army of the United States.

He graduated from the College of Mortuary Science in St. Louis in 1946, along with his future business partner Ollie Amick. The two men went to work for Bisplinghoff Funeral Homes in Chaffee and Scott City. In 1955 Jack and Ollie purchased the business. In 1960 they built and expanded the business to Benton, and in 1964 they purchased the Earl J. Smith Funeral Home in Oran. In 1978 the name of the business was changed to Amick-Burnett Funeral Chapels and in 1987 they purchased the Throop Funeral Home in Sikeston. They continued to operate the funeral business until their retirement in 1989, when their sons, Jack Burnett, Mark Amick, and Scott Amick, purchased the business.

Jack was very active in local civic affairs; in 1979 he was recognized for 20 years of service in assisting in development of Chaffee youth leagues baseball program. He was a member of the Missouri Funeral Directors Association and served as President of the Southeast District. He was a member of Chaffee Masonic Lodge 615, Morley Eastern Star, Moolah Temple of St. Louis, Semo Shrine Club, and Scottish Rite of St. Louis. He was also a member of the Chaffee Rotary club and received its Paul Harris Fellow award, the Chaffee Elks Lodge 1810, Chaffee American Legion Post 389, Chaffee V.F.W. Post 3127 and a life member of D.A.V. He was a member of St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Sikeston.

Survivors include his wife, of Sikeston; a son, Jack L. Burnett of Chaffee; a daughter Jane Pfefferkorn of Sikeston; two stepsons, Ron Graviett of Bloomfield and Tom Graviett of Lewisville, Texas; six grandchildren, Molly Noe, Corrie, Abby and Maggie Pfefferkorn, Jessie Vollink and Sam Burnett; eight stepgrandchildren Elaine Causevic, Amanda Mullin, DaRonda, Jeremy, Aunna, Lydia, Thomas and Michael Graviett; two great-grandchildren Kylie and Brylie Noe; and three step-great-grandchildren Madyson Barnes, Vivian and Loren Causevic; two brothers, Jim Burnett of Miles City, Mont. and John Burnett of Columbus, Ohio; and three sisters Carolyn Whitfield and Mary Hindman of Chaffee and Betty Kennedy of St. Michaels, Md.

His parents and two brothers, Robert L. and Joseph H. Burnett, preceded him in death.

Friends may call at Amick-Burnett Funeral Chapel in Chaffee after 4 p.m. Wednesday. There will be a parish prayer service at 7:00 p.m.

Funeral Mass will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at St. Ambrose Catholic Church in Chaffee, Co-celebrants will be the Rev. Mike McDivitt and the Rev. Ralph Duffner. Interment will follow in Union Park Cemetery in Chaffee with military graveside honors.

Expressions of sympathy may take the form of donations to the Chaffee High School Sports Booster Club for weight room equipment.