John Hinton Burns, a long time resident of Reed City and Big Rapids, died peacefully in his sleep on 27 May 2009. He was 79. His wife and children were with him. Many of his life long friends knew him as Jack. John was born in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada in February 1930. A depression era child, he spent his childhood playing outdoors skating on the frozen ponds, playing in the woods, making underground bunkers, playing marbles and making slingshots in between Kitchener and Madison Heights / Ferndale Michigan. John was an avid ice skater and enjoyed playing hockey as a youth and adult, and he followed the Toronto Maple Leafs. While John courted his future wife, they enjoyed going to the theatre, ice-skating, and ballroom dancing listening to the big bands of that era. He graduated from Hazel Park High School in 1948. After marriage, three children and various jobs following the conclusion of WWII, John was called to service with the Detroit Police Department in 1956. John served with DPD for many years, walking the beat in Downtown Detroit, working in Accident Prevention Bureau, serving many downtown precincts and was assigned to several high profile events, to include the Beatles visit to Detroit and Presidential Candidate Barry Goldwater's visit in 1964. Following the inner city riots in Detroit, John moved his family north to Reed City in 1969. Here he served with Ferris State University Security until he retired in 1992. John had a historian's knowledge of the Civil War, but his true passion was playing his beloved jazz music on any of the saxophone family. His forte was the tenor saxophone. John was known to carry his sax with him on his various travels, welcoming the opportunity to play with other "Wayward Musicians" as a means to spread his joy of music, and the privilege to make new friends. John's natural appreciation of America's splendor led him to visit many of our states. Although spending much of his travels in the South, his favorite places were in Utah at Bryce Canyon and Zion. John was known to say of such places, "It's so beautiful that I just wanted to share it with my friends." John married the former Ann Therese McMasters (Mitzi) in Royal Oak in 1949. They recently celebrated together their 60-year anniversary of marriage. John & Mitzi had 7 children, Katherine (Daniel) Dysarz, Victorville, CA; Kristine (Robert) Doyle, Holland, MI; John Patrick Burns; Susan Burns, Big Rapids; Sally (Dale) Welborn; John Robert Burns, Mobile, Al; and Brigitt (Jack) Enos, Reed City. He enjoyed 12 grandchildren, and 4 great-grandchildren. John is preceded in death by his parents John B. & Edith K. Burns, his wife's parents Robert L. and Kathleen. M. McMasters, son John Patrick, and daughter Sally Ilene. John leaves behind a legacy of benevolence to all whom he came across. John rarely met a stranger. His devotion to, and love for his family has enriched the lives of generations to come. John will be sorely missed, but cheerfully and honorably remembered. Services to celebrate and honor John's life will take place 2:00 p.m. Saturday, May 30th at the Daggett-Gilbert Funeral Home in Big Rapids with Father Joe Fix officiating. The family will greet friends prior to the services on Saturday from 12:00 p.m. (noon) until 2:00 p.m. and also at the home of John's daughter, Suzie at 14011 205th Avenue, Big Rapids on Friday, May 29th from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Memorial contributions in John's name may be made to Hospice of Michigan, Big Rapids.