Rupert "Burnie" Burnham, 89, Saint Marys, died 7:10 P.M. Saturday, October 17, 2015, in the emergency department of Van Wert County Hospital.

He was born October 19, 1925, in Plankenton, South Dakota, the son of Rupert and Lillian (Duerisch) Burnham. He married Ann Elizabeth Darner on April 12, 1947, in Fairborn, Ohio, and she preceded him in death on June 22, 2009.

He is survived by his two daughters: Marcia (Dugan) Klosterman of Van Wert; Adele (Dennis) Walls of Saint Marys. He is survived by nine grandchildren: Melissa Sinning; Brian Klosterman; Julie Mearkle; Mark Klosterman; Megan Klosterman; Chad Klosterman; Ben Klosterman; Jennifer Coffey; Derrick Walls. He is survived by fifteen great-grandchildren, and by two sisters, Janice Bus of Panama City, Florida and Ramona Alfieri of St. George, Utah.

He was preceded in death by his parents, wife and by siblings Robert Burnham and Geri Blair.

Burnie graduated from Olive Branch High School in Donaldsville, Ohio, and was a veteran of the United States Navy, having served during WWII. He was a retired electrical contractor and the owner of Burnham Electric in Dayton.

He was a member of the Polish Club of Dayton, Knights of Columbus in Dayton, and VFW Post 9289 and American Legion Post 323 in Saint Marys. He enjoyed boating, hunting, traveling, water skiing, and golfing. He was a member of Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Saint Marys.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held 11:00 A.M. Friday, October 23, 2015, at Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Saint Marys, Father Barry Stechschulte, celebrant. Burial, with military honors, will follow at Gethsemane Cemetery in Saint Marys.

Friends may call from 2-4 and 6-8 P.M. Thursday at the Miller Funeral Home, 1605 Celina Road, Saint Marys, where memorial gifts may be given to either the Holy Rosary Building Fund or to St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish in Chicago, where Burnie's nephew, Fr. Anthony Bus, serves as Pastor.

Condolences may be sent to Burnie's family via Millerfuneralhomes.net.