Lt. Commander USN (Ret.) Brian St. John Burns Sr.

On Friday February 17th, Brian St. John Burns Sr. sent off on his final flight at the young age of sixty-three, unexpectedly in his home in Poway, California.

Born in Woodstock, Illinois on September 23rd, 1959, Brian was the youngest of eight. After a childhood full of evading trouble, horseback riding to high school and shenanigans with his brothers, Brian enlisted in the Navy in August 1976 in the delayed entry program, graduating from Dundee High School in June 1977 and entering active-duty August 11th, 1977.

He had an illustrious naval career with highlights such as working with F-14's, being attached to TOPGUN, "Maintenance Officer of the Year" and upon retiring after thirty years, he parted ways as Lieutenant Commander.

Brian was an avid car collector, belonging to the Classic Chevy club, his claim to fame was his Chevrolet 55 "Double Nickel" was in the movie Top Gun. He loved to collect, work on, and not work on classic cars with his brothers, starting Burns Brother's Performance with them as a family.

Everyone that knows Brian, knows what it's like to be given "guff" and picked on with a smile, he's the first person to tell you to "knock it off" if you start behaving badly. He was always right, and he was always there when you needed him and would drop anything to help others, his selflessness was unmatched and always will be.

Brian was preceded in death by his father and mother, George and Elizabeth Burns and his brothers George Jr. and Leo.

He is survived by the mother of his children and best friend, Dawn Burns, their three children, Robert, Brittany and Brian Jr., his brothers Martin, Michael, Patrick and Tom, his sister Roberta, his two grandchildren Ezra and Braxton, an entire fleet of classic cars, and his thirteen-year-old beagle Bixby.

In lieu of flowers and donations, please do as Brian would – pick on those you love, shop at Costco, do good for someone else and hug your family.

Visit www.memorialbrianburns.com for memorial service details, photos and share your memories.