William: 'wil' (will, desire) and 'helm' (helmet, protection).
William Aaron Burnes, a man with a STRONG WILL fought a courageous battle against cancer, but lost the fight on March 13, 2006. However, as many can attest, he lives on – beyond the veil where the human eye cannot see.
He lived life to the fullest and succeeded in all that he did. As a marine in the 3rd Recon Battalion for 5 years, he attended Maritime Fire Academy. He was passionate about the work he did as a Commercial Fisherman and a Chief Engineer Contractor. “Work hard and play hard” was his motto. His travels took him to countries like Korea, Norway, Germany, Greece, Paris, England and Japan. Will was well known for his creative talent and ability to build anything to which he set his mind. Classic cars brought him a great deal of pleasure, starting with his beloved 1978 yellow camaro. He enjoyed scuba diving in some of the most remote waters in the world. He loved to read positive books by authors such as C.S. Lewis and Lance Armstrong.
Will was the oldest of 11 children and provided an example to his siblings and extended family. He had the desire to assist those less fortunate and was instrumental in helping many get a fresh start in life. A strong passion for life and his faith in God inspired by his Christian beliefs, empowered him to love deeper, give more, and fly higher than most could ever dream.
Before his passing, he felt a great connection with his ancestors and began learning more about them. It was not long before they began calling him home. The pain was gone and he was welcomed into heaven by loved ones excited to see him again.
“Think of him still as the same, I say, He is not dead, he is just away”. - James Whitcomb Riley
