Lance Burr
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Memorial services for Lance W. Burr, 70, Lawrence, KS will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Monday, May 20, 2013 at Liberty Hall (642 Massachusetts St.) in Lawrence, KS. Inurnment will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 21, 2013 at the Gypsum Hill Cemetery in Salina, KS. He died on Monday, May 13, 2013 at his home in Lawrence after a ten year battle with Parkinson’s disease.
Lance was born on November 22, 1942 in Salina, KS, the son of Sheldon and June Dahlberg Burr. He grew up in Salina and graduated from Salina High School in 1961. He was a graduate of the University of Kansas in 1965 and the University of Kansas School of Law in 1968. While at KU, he played tennis and was a Big Eight tennis champion in 1964 and President of the Phi Delta Phi Legal Fraternity in 1965. Lance was a longtime Lawrence attorney, activist, conservationist, environmentalist and landlord.
He practiced law for many years and specialized in Native American Law. He worked as an Assistant Attorney General in Kansas and ran for Attorney General on two occasions. At one time, he was the Attorney General for the Kickapoo Nation in Kansas and Nebraska. He also did legal work for the Prairie Band Potawatomie Nation, and the Sac and Fox tribes of Kansas. He was instrumental in obtaining rights for the Kansas Indian tribes to legalize reservation casinos with then Governor Joan Finney. He also owned a small business, Restorations Unlimited, in Lawrence.
He was a member of the Kansas and Douglas County Bar Associations. He was a co-founder and the first president of the Friends of the Kaw. He taught Native American Law at Haskell Indian Nations University. He argued cases in federal and state supreme courts for conservation issues, Indian federal and state rights, gaming laws, and the preservation of numerous historic and architecturally unique buildings in Douglas County.
Lance had a lively sense of humor. He loved travel (foreign and domestic), music, animals, motorcycle riding, and KU basketball.
He is survived by a daughter, Desireé Burr, of Lawrence, KS; a son and daughter-in-law, Dustin and Misty Burr, of Lawrence, KS; his father, Sheldon Burr, of Salina, KS; a brother, Steve Burr, of Salina, KS and two step-grandchildren, Gus and Daisy Warren. He was preceded in death by his mother.
The family will greet friends from 5 – 8 p.m. on Sunday, May 19, 2013 at the mortuary.
The family suggests memorials in his name to the American Indian College Fund and may be sent in care of the Warren-McElwain Mortuary in Lawrence.
(For parking on Monday, we suggest the City’s parking garage next to City Hall, or you may go to the Liberty Hall website and they have suggestions of parking in the vicinity.)
Steve, Ginny, Jed, Hannah,
Our thoughts and prayers are with you during this sad time. Lance sounds like he lived life with such purpose.
Our condolences to the family. You are in our thoughts and prayers. Rest in peace, Lance.
Desiree and Dustin:
Please know that you’re in the thoughts of so many right now. Your father was well-loved and won’t only be missed, but will continually be celebrated.
Much love to you both and your family.
-Katie
The last 10 years were very tough for you, your courage was nothing short of spectacular. Many memories, all of them GOOD. A great friend to so many, and I was lucky to be one of them. RIP my friend.
We are saddened to hear of Lance passing.He was always full of life, he will be missed. So many years of friendship with him.Our condolences to his children,who we watched grow up.
The best part of my years in law school was clerking for Lance . .what a novel introduction to the law . .I learned so much about the difference between an attorney and an advocate . .he was funny, irreverent and deadly serious about doing the right thing, and he was a great mentor and a good friend . . . I will miss him
I’m sorry I won’t be able to attend the service. I send my sympathies to the family.
Bob
“Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.” (Joshua 1:9) Desiree, keeping you and your family in my prayers.
I am sorry to hear of Lance’s passing. My time spent with him was very brief. I was impressed at how easily Lance made me feel like part of his family and how truly genuine he was about everything. He will be missed by many. Much sympathy to all of his family and friends
Wishing the very best to those closest to Lance and all of us who knew him even for a moment. I always felt better about things after time spent with Lance. He helped me understand the influence of labels and to be wary of their use and using them.
I loved Lance and I many, many people will miss him. He had such a sense of humor and love of life that was contagious. My thought and prayers are with Desiree and Dustin and all of those who also loved him.
Lance was my landlord at the June Building back in the 90s, where I had my first office. He was a sweet guy. I am sorry to see that the world is losing such a wonderful man. Condolences.
Lance helped me in the 70s, and I will always be grateful for his big heart and ready smile. He lived life with open arms.
Lance was our (me and now husband) landlord on New York St. in 2000. His kindness and gentle nature made this world a better place. Peace to Lance and his family
Like so many others here in Lawrence, I had the honor of knowing Lance. From our first meeting as my landlord in the mid-70s, to his managing my will and other personal business in the ’90s, to the occasional and always welcome encounter around town, Lance was always warm, welcoming, and interested. His commitment to this community and the people within it will never be forgotten.
We loved your Dad our prayers are with his family.Know that he will always be with you as he lives in our hearts.We will miss him. He loved Narives and their plight
Family and Friends of Lance: I have known Lance for over 50 years. We entered KU at the same time and completed law school together. As you already know, and will hear from many others over the next few days, Lance was a terific person who was loved by many. I regret not being able to attend his celebration. A long standing trip to Europe prevents my being their. I will be thinking about Lance and my wonderful memories of times and experiences together on Monday. Cherish the memories.
My condolences to Desiree, Dustin, Lance’s father, Sheldon, and to all who benefited from Lance’s love, including our planet and all the creatures on it. We will all miss this great man.
Blessings, thoughts and prayers for your family.
My condolences to Lance’s family. He was a wonderful and caring man with a great sense of humor. I will miss you.
Farewell friend…. sing and play with the angels until I get there. Fond memories of singing, playing and eating out at the country house will be with me forever.
Lance was an amazing presence in Lawrence that no obituary can summerize.
Our thoughts are with you at this time of sorrow. Lance was a good friend to the Sevier family for many years, his strength and perseverance helped us through a tragic time in our lives and we always remember him for it. Our prayers are with you.
we are so sorry to hear about lance, we have such fond memories (Lance turned us on to sushi) and helped with us with our legal.A friend we will mis, RIP
Lance’s engaging personality made friends easily and he made many friends along the way. In 50 years of knowing Lance, he always spoke positive about life and people; his life and his many friends attest to this. He will be missed.
Lance was our friend, he was always willing to help us. We are members of the Comanche/Wichita/EBCherokee tribes, we spent many hours receiving valuable information with our win in federal court against the SLT. He loved to here our stories about our tribes. We loved him, but know he is still with us in our hearts. The Ross family: Stan, Thomasine, Aaron, RaeLynn & Lucas
You don’t many folks like Lance. A man with passion for helping those with no voice. Also one of my favorite nutty friends. Wiley and I will never forget him, RIP
Lance was one of the best individuals I ever met . He was a Reniassance man whith so much talent and skill. He was super intelligent and had a huge sensitivty to others problems. I sang with him for severl years as ” The City Slicker & the Country Boy”. We made people happy and enjoyed each other. I thank him for teaching me the art of meeting others. The world will miss his presence. Go on sing our song and keep spreading joy. RIP Brother.
“There is no death, only a change of worlds.” I would have loved to seen you again Lance but I’ll remember you from the old and lively days, playing music, hiking in the wilds and laughing hard to our mutual antics.
See you on the other side amigo!
Forever in our hearts the wild man who said it like it was…we love you.
Lance had an impressive resume that made SHS, our common high school very proud. He left too soon.
It was an honor to have Lance as a friend. His support for Native Americans was virtually unmatched. He will be greatly missed by all of us who knew him.
Here is one memory that is a tiny example of Lance’s special ability to bring people together: we at Free State Glass had a wonderful employee from Cypress named Ulviye whom I introduced to Lance at one of our functions. A little while later Lance invited Debbie and I to a dinner at his place where he introduced us to Ulviye’s parents who were in country. Before the night was over we had all been invited to attend the young woman’s wedding in Cypress along with their good family friend from Kansas-Lance Burr.
So many fond memories of Lance. His wonderful sense of humor, his earnest dedication to the many causes he championed, his wide-open hospitality, his music, his caring for others. I will miss him greatly.
Our friendship goes back to our college days together. He has been a very good friend over the years and an inspiration because of his amazing integrity and loyalty. Lance’s dedication to the environment and to his friends in the Native American community will be a part of his wonderful legacy. What a great guy. We loved him!
Our friendship goes back to our college days together. He has been a very good friend over the years and an inspiration because of his amazing integrity and loyalty. Lance’s dedication to the environment and to his friends in the Native American community will be a part of his wonderful legacy. What a great guy. We loved him!
We remember with fondness our lanky college friend Lance and his Cadillac! Our condolences to his family.
Praying for you and your family Desiree.
My sincere condolences to the family of my good friend and fellow animal lover. He will truly be missed.
The memorial tribute to our Lance William was beautiful this Spring afternoon and 3rd Monday of May. The poem written and presented by his dearest niece was so beautiful and fitting of Lance, completely. Thank you so much for sharing. Lance was the best listener and best conversationalist ever. He was genuinely interested in what people, genuinely concerned and caring. He made us all feel so very special. I got to know him nearly 35 years and worked for him from 1978 to 1983, and ran his campaign for Attorney General in 1982. He dearly loved people so very much and it showed. He was always such a kind, caring & loving true gentleman. Lance William Burr, you are the best and now you are with the angels of Heaven. We all love you so much. Our hearts, thoughts and prayers to his dearest family…May God Bless <3
The memorial tribute to our Lance William was beautiful this Spring afternoon and 3rd Monday of May. The poem written and presented by his dearest niece was so beautiful and fitting of Lance, completely. Thank you so much for sharing. Lance was the best listener and best conversationalist ever. He was genuinely interested in what people had to say, genuinely concerned and caring. He made us all feel so very special. I got to know him nearly 35 years and worked for him from 1978 to 1983, and ran his campaign for Attorney General in 1982. He dearly loved people so very much and it showed. He was always such a kind, caring & loving true gentleman. Lance William Burr, you are the best and now you are with the angels of Heaven. We all love you so much. Our hearts, thoughts and prayers to his dearest family…May God Bless
I am so sad to hear of Lance’s passing. He was truly a kind, caring man and will be very missed…
Lance was a friend to the powerless and a prod to the powerful. His spirit lives on.
Blessed are they that mourn for they shall be comforted. Matthew 5:4 May God’s love shine on you in this time of loss and sorrow. May the prayers of those who care, console and strengthen you. I pray that you find peace and comfort during this difficult time. Philippians 4:6, 7 encourages us “Do not be anxious over anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication along with thanksgiving let YOUR petitions be made known to God; and the peace of God (Psalm 83:18) that excels all thought will guard YOUR hearts and YOUR mental powers by means of Christ Jesus”. For further comfort and to know why we get sick or grow old and die please go to http://www.jw.org
My dear friend Lance, Forever Rest in Peace…
I was a long time tenant of Lance’s, at his peach Victorian home sitting on the corner of 7th and New York Street in Lawrence, Kansas. I loved my friendship with Lance and I loved being his tenant. I am sorry for your loss for he was a bright and shining star in the lives of many people including my own.