Wayne Edward Burnett, 69, passed away Wednesday, June 13, 2018 at Central Florida Regional Hospital in Sanford, Florida with his life partner Carol Purcaro by his side. Wayne was born November 9, 1948 to George and Viola (Ladzinski) Burnett in Poughkeepsie, New York. He joined the U.S. Army shortly after his 18th Birthday.
Wayne Served in the U.S. Army from November 1966 to January 1972. His service in the Army included a medical center in Germany and the 32nd Medical Detachment, Vietnam. December 31, 1971 Wayne married his former wife Vicky and in January 1973 they welcomed their first child Wayne A. Burnett (known as little Wayne). In June 1977 Wayne joined the U.S. Navy. In May 1982 Wayne and Vicky welcomed their second child Anne Burnett (Traver). In 1984 Wayne and his wife Vicky separated. Wayne continued serving in the Navy being stationed in Tennessee and Virginia and serving in Dessert Storm.
In May 1992, Wayne retired from the Navy after an injury to his ankle during his Deseret Storm deployment. He received multiple accommodations for his service during his military career. He then moved to Florida and started doing what he loved most – fishing! Around 1999 Wayne met Carol Purcaro and they shared the next 20 years together. During that time, he fished – a lot; went back to school and received his A.A.S Degree in Business Administration and Management in May 2003 from Seminole Community College in Sanford, FL; welcomed his first grandchild/grandson in December 1997 (Austin Burnett), his second grandson March 2001 (Duncan Burnett), his third grandson May 2014 (Samson Traver), his first granddaughter November 2014 (Samantha Purcaro), and fourth grandson February 2017 (Silas Traver).
Wayne loved fishing and spent as much time on the lake/river as he could. He participated in many fishing tournaments and even won three trophies. When he wasn’t fishing he would watch fishing shows on Sundays, played poker once a week, played horse shoes when he could, and was helping to raise his granddaughter Samantha who he adored.
Wayne is survived by his life partner, Carol Purcaro; daughter, Anne (Dean) Traver; son Wayne (Beryl) Burnett; grandchildren, Samson and Silas Traver, Austin and Duncan Burnett and Samantha Purcaro; brothers, George Jr., Fred Sr., Gary, and Frank Burnett; sisters, Murial Andersen and Barbara Minckler; and numerous nieces and nephews. Wayne was preceded in death by his parents and sister, Linda Burnett.
Funeral services will be held on Friday, June 6, 2018 at Fort Snelling National Cemetery at 12:30 PM. There will be a luncheon to follow at Everett McClay VFW Post 1296 311 W 84th St, Bloomington, MN 55420. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to Anne Traver P.O. Box 546, Norwood, MN 55368