William “Bill” C. Burns of Davenport, passed away at 91 years old on June 23, 2026, doing what he loved, participating in the Tuesday Walking Group.
A Mass of Christian Burial was held on Monday, June 29, at 10:30 a.m., St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church, Davenport. Visitation was one hour before the funeral at church. Burial was at Mt. Calvary Cemetery in Davenport. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church, 916 E. Rusholme, Davenport, Iowa.
William Carl Burns was born Aug. 23, 1934, to Clarence and Helen Kautzman Burns in Burlington. He attended and graduated from St. John’s Catholic School and Burlington High School. He graduated from University of Iowa with a major in general studies and speech with emphasis in motion picture.
At the time, the job opportunities were limited, so he enlisted in the army. His first assignment was working on motion picture and script writing with intensive training in communications. Eventually he was sent to Germany as a post war photographer, taking pictures from bodies to damaged infrastructures. Eventually becoming a photographer for the Stars & Stripes in Germany. It is while there he met and married Bihildis Maria Bieg. They were married at St. Andrews Catholic Church in Neckarhausen, Germany, on Oct. 25, 1959. When Bill’s military contract was finished, they moved back to the United States.
The family lived in Cedar Rapids for two years and he worked as an industrial photographer for Collins Radio. Eventually moving to Ames, raising their family. He worked in public relations for the Department of Transportation as an industrial photographer.
In 2001, they moved to Davenport to be near family. He was an active member of St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church, Davenport. He was active in many organizations such as Black Hawk Hiking Group, Tuesday Walking Club, Christian Family Movement, Knights of Columbus, Kiwanis, Catholic Food Pantry, Milestone Area Agency on Aging/ Meals on Wheels, VFW, and Quad Cities In-Fisherman Club
Bill will be mourned by his family and friends. His son Christopher (Toni) Burns and his children Amanda (Sean) Starr, Amber (Kevin) Darling, and Nicholas (Remington) Burns. His son Daniel (Melissa) Burns and their children Alexander and Jack. And his daughter Nicol (Chuck) Henning and their children Gavin, Carter, and Natalie; a foster child Thy Penh; and six great-grandchildren. His brother Robin (Mary Ann) Burns, his sister Barbara (Jim) Morrison, and his loving friend Sondra Bulazo.
He was preceded in death by his wife Bihildis Bieg Burns, his twin children Steffen and Mary Ann, his great-grandchild Hendrick Darling and his parents Clarence and Helen Burns. May Dad and all our beloved deceased relatives rest in peace.
Online tributes may be expressed at www.hmdfuneralhome.com.
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