Marie Annette Burns (Kresenski), 79, died on July 10, 2026 in Overland Park, Kansas after a short illness with cancer of the bladder.
A Celebration of Life ceremony will be 10:00 AM for Marie at the Porter Funeral Home in Lenexa, Kansas on August 29, 2026 for family and friends.
Born on December 10, 1946 in Franklin, Pennsylvania as a second daughter to Max Raymond and Anna Kresenski (Kozella). Marie attended St Patrich's Elementary School and Franklin Junior-Senior High School graduating in 1964. Following high school, she worked for Franklin Steel for four years as a executive secretary.
She was married on August 10, 1968, to Lieutenant James Robert Burns, Ill at Fort Wolters, Texas and later onto Fort Rucker, Alabama, as her husband completed the Officer Rotary Wing Flight School enroute to Vietnam. They would make eight permanent changes of station moves with the US Army in 11 years.
Marie and Jim celebrated 57 wonderful years of marriage and devotion to each other. Marie was employed by the Olathe School District as a Junior High School secretary for 22 years prior to retirement in 2006. She loved the challenge of being engaged with faculty and over 1000 students throughout the academic year. She was highly respected and honored for her dedication and efficiency.
Marie enjoyed traveling, boating at Lake of the Ozarks with family and friends and traveling the world on cruises. Marie set sail on multiple cruises to many points in the Caribbean, Mediterranean and Europe. She shared these experiences with many of her friends and family.
Surviving is her husband, James R Burns, Ill (81) of Overland Park, Kansas; a daughter, Laura E Burns, (52) of Olathe ,Kansas; a son Michael J Burns (48) and his wife Marci of Wilmington, North Carolina; four grandchildren, Dr. Camden Burns(29) of Orlando, Florida; Anna M Stankiewicz (25) of Dallas, Texas; Alexis M Burns (23) of Tampa, Florida and James M. Stankiewicz (22) of Olathe, Kansas and one great granddaughter, Luna J Heyne (2) of Dallas, Texas. In addition to her parents, Marie was preceded in death by her sister Maxine Conners in 2014 and her brother Eugene Kresenski in 2012.
In lieu of flowers please consider donating to :
The Brady Urological Institute Development Office
Attention: Johns Hopkins Greenberg Bladder Cancer Institute
600 N. Wolfe Street, CMSC 130
Baltimore, MD 21287
Please note GBCI on the memo line of your check.
Or donate online at: https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/greenberg-bladder-cancer-institute