Jeff Burbank
Dear Cousins Chris and David,
Please accept my condolences on the passing of your Dad and my Uncle Denny. I recall Uncle Denny from many years ago in Michigan and his visits to California when we were kids and young adults. He was always smart, laid back and had a calming influence. Our visit to Michigan back in 1964 is full of fond boyhood memories for me, at Grandma Sara's home on Tipsico Lake Road outside Fenton, the Christmas tree farm, with Bill Warren and their cattle, corn fields, barn, hay bales, chickens, Land Rover, and fishing with Denny and Rex in Warrens' small lake. I experienced so many things that I could not have in suburban northern California. I recall when I was out of college in July of 1978 seeing your boats at your lakeside cabin, and trying to water ski -- not very well, but you all could! You all had five boats as I remember. I'm sorry we were not as close as we might have been. I was with my Mom Nancy for a day in California shortly before she passed last December. We're all grateful for the life they provided for us. Denny and Nancy as youngsters shared the early death of their father, Clarence, and having to grow up early to provide for the family in the Depression era. For many years when I was a kid in the 1960s and 1970s we often talked about "Denny and Barb" and the good times in Michigan. My Mom talked about Denny being a drama teacher and director, and his radio name, "Sid." Rex and Nancy were quite close to Denny and Barb in for sometime in Michigan, before we moved to Minnesota and then the west coast. Denny, Barb, Nancy and Rex all lived great and comfortable lives. I called Denny in 2009 to tell him the news about Rex's passing while Denny and Barb were out of town. Then a day or so later, Denny called me with Barb by his side and we had a nice conversation about Rex. Denny and Barb really felt close to Rex. Time is passing for us all but a piece of each of them lives within us, and within our kids. My love to Denny, and to you Cousin Chris and Cousin David. Best to you all, and a long life!!
Love,
Cousin Jeff
Monday May 22, 2017 at 7:52 pm
