Alfred H. Burns

Alfred Harry Burns (99 years old) passed from the arms of his loving family into the arms of his heavenly father on 4 January 2025.

 Alfred was born to Mildred (Bush) and Harry Burns in Millington on 8 May 1925, the second of their six children. He attended the Hopkins School on the corner of Irish and Willard Roads through the eighth grade and graduated from Millington High School in 1942. Alfred played football for three years in high school and was a tackle on the 1940 Millington High School team that was undefeated and unscored upon. He also played baseball for one year, was junior representative to the student council, was in both the junior and senior plays, and participated in 4-H until he graduated from high school. Education was important, but being on the farm, and helping with the chores was what Alfred really enjoyed. He and his siblings started and raised baby chicks to exhibit at the Tuscola County and Michigan State Fairs. When Alfred was 14, he and his older brother won a trip to the National 4-H Club Congress and International Livestock Show in Chicago for their demonstration at the Michigan State Fair. He became a member of the Millington Methodist Church when he was 15. Alfred received an agricultural deferment after high school graduation; however, the deferment ran out in the spring of 1945, and he was drafted into the Army in August 1945. He went to Arkansas for basic training, and then he was assigned to a military police company at Fort Richardson, in Anchorage, Alaska. While Alfred was in the Army, the young adults at the Methodist Church decided to write letters to the servicemen; Albertine Forsyth drew his name. Alfred was discharged in 1947 and returned to Millington and to the poultry farm to work with his parents and siblings, and establish Burns Poultry Farms, Inc. Alfred and Albertine were married on Sunday, August 27, 1950, and they celebrated 70 years of marriage. They lived in the original homestead of the Robert Burns family on Arbela Road. From the time he was 13 (except while he was in the Army), Alfred and his father got up early every Saturday morning to drive to the Eastern Market in Detroit to sell eggs and New York dressed hens. His trips to Detroit continued nearly every Saturday until 1998. Over the years, Alfred was involved in numerous building projects, including turning dairy barns on purchased farms into multi-floor chicken coops, building chicken coops from scratch, remodeling existing farmhouses, and building new houses for family members. Alfred's family installed a hot water heating system in the Methodist Church on Main Street in 1953. In 1954-55, Alfred and Albertine drew the plans, and the Burns family built the Methodist parsonage. He was a member of the building committee for the new United Methodist Church during the late 1970s, and by his account, he had a "pretty good record" of church attendance and participation. Alfred served on the Michigan Allied Poultry Board from 1970 to 1990. He was a member of the Millington Rotary Club from 1953 to 2017, and helped the Club complete many projects for the betterment of the Millington community. He served as president of the Millington Rotary Club four different times. Alfred contributed considerable support to the Rotary International Foundation and its goal to eradicate polio around the world; he was recognized as a Rotary International Paul Harris Fellow in 1985. Alfred didn’t have many hobbies, his responsibilities at the farm kept him quite busy. However, he and his family spent a few days each year on vacation, and he enjoyed several tours with farm groups to observe farming practices both in the United States and internationally. More recently, he enjoyed a couple out of state bus trips, trips to the west and east sides of the state, as well as many local road trips where he could watch the planting and harvesting activities in the fields.

 Alfred is survived by his children, Trudy Burns, Susan Burns, Wayne (Patricia Eno) Burns; grandchildren, Leah Burns (Daniel) Park, Kaitlin Burns; sister-in-law Elinor Forsyth Kroll and brother-in-law James Forsyth; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife Albertine, his parents, and his five siblings: George Burns, Viola Kinney, Norman Burns, Lloyd Burns, and Lyle Burns.

Friends and family are invited to visit with the family and share their memories on Sunday (January 12th) from 3:00 to 7:00 pm at the Hanlin Funeral Home, or on Monday (January 13th) from 10:00 am until the time of the service at the Millington United Methodist Church.

 Alfred’s funeral service will be at the Millington United Methodist Church on Monday, January 13th at 11:00 am. Memorial gifts can be directed to the Millington United Methodist Church, or the Millington-Arbela Historical Society.

Hanlin Funeral Home in Millington, MI has been assisting the family with arrangements

HANLIN FUNERAL HOME’S

Serving Since 1928

Millington & Vassar, Michigan