Atlantic, IA – Friends and family are invited to remember longtime resident and educator Dorothy Burnett this weekend at the United Church of Christ, 1607 Hazel Street in Atlantic. Husband Chuck and family will host a Visitation Friday, April 28th from 6:00-8:00pm and Celebration of Life service Saturday, April 29th at 11:00am at the Church.
Dorothy Corine (Newman) Burnett, daughter of Lloyd and Olivette Newman, was born on a farm east of Griswold, IA. on February 22, 1935. She passed away Friday, January 13, 2023, at the age of 87, in Wichita, KS. Dorothy attended country school at Noble Center, south of Lyman, before graduating from Griswold High School in 1952. She would continue her education attending Simpson College in Indianola before gaining a Masters Degree in Education from Northwest Missouri State in Maryville, MO.
While attending Simpson College, Dorothy met Charles (Chuck) Burnett of Indianola. The two were wed July 29, 1956, at the Nobel Center Evangelical United Brethren Church near Lyman.When not home raising three children, Dorothy spent 30 years educating elementary children, including 27 in the Atlantic school district (Pymosa, Jackson, and Washington) before retiring in 1998. Combined with husband Chuck, the Burnett’s dedicated 69 years to Iowa education and were Atlantic residents for 60 until moving to Wichita last fall.
Dorothy was a fixture in the United Church of Christ and a community volunteer. Much of her time was involved with the American Cancer Society (Relay for Life and Festival of Trees), talking with high school youth about the hazards of smoking and working with assorted Cass County Hospital programs. She was an avid supporter of the Atlantic YMCA and Iowa Public Broadcasting. Interests shared between Dorothy and Chuck were the Des Moines Civic Center and travel to destinations such as Europe, the Mediterranean, Panama, Alaska, and Branson. A favorite trip was a 50 th wedding anniversary family outing in Aspen, CO. Dorothy enjoyed a rich life filled with family, friends, gardening, and her faith in God.
Dorothy is survived by her husband of 66 years, Chuck Burnett of Wichita, KS; son Scott Burnett (Cindy) of Rogers, AR, daughter Lynn Stutler (Scott) of Wichita, KS, son Brian Burnett of Des Moines, IA; grandchildren Christy Earp (David), Shea Riley (Ryan), Nate Burnett (Lauren), Cara Vadakin (Kenny), Jessi Story (Brandon); great-grandchildren Jackson Riley, Harlow Riley, Jemma Earp, Easton Earp, Rey Burnett, Foster Vadakin; sister Gloria Cashett (Roger) of Glenwood and sister-in-law Sharon Newman of Council Bluffs; many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, brothers Darwin and Galen Newman, sister-in-law Betty Newman.
