ST. PAUL — William A. “Bill” Burnett, Jr., 82, of St. Paul died at 12:45 a.m. Thursday, June 10, 2010, at Prairie Mission Retirement Village in St. Paul.

He was born Sept. 7, 1927, in rural St. Paul to William A. Burnett Sr. and Ethel Ida (Schornick) Burnett. As a young boy, he grew up in rural St. Paul, where he attended schools and later attended St. Paul High School.

For a time, he worked for the Katy Railroad before entering the United States Army, where he served during World War II from December 1945 through January 1947.

Following his honorable discharge, he returned to St. Paul where he farmed and worked for Kansas Gas Service for 35 years.

He was a member of the George L. Hendricks American Legion Post No. 102 in Erie for 35 years. Following retirement, he especially enjoyed traveling and spending time with family and friends.

He married Mazie Brenner on Dec. 21, 1947, in Galesburg. She preceded him in death on Feb. 2, 2005.

Survivors include two sons, Leo Burnett and his wife, Gena, and Jesse Burnett and his wife, Debbie, all of Erie; a daughter, Gwen Lester of South Mound; eight grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren.

In addition to his wife, he was preceded in death by two brothers; one sister; a daughter, Joyce Kay Showalter; and son-in-law, Charlie Showalter, in January 1990.

A graveside service will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at South Mound Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 7 to 8 p.m. today at Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home in Parsons.

Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society or Southern Care Hospice. These may be left at or mailed to the funeral home, P.O. Box 374, Parsons, 67357.

Online condolences may be left at www.forbeshoffman.com.