Joan Arlene Burns

Joan Arlene Burns, 76, of Greer, South Carolina passed away, September 25, 2022, at her
home. She was born to the late John and Blanche Muttonen, April 24, 1946 in Minot, North
Dakota. Joan graduated from Minot High School in 1964 and received a B.A. in Education from
Minot State University in 1968. She married the late Oliver Wendell Burns Jr. in 1971 and lived
in Cheney, Washington, Brooklyn Center, Minnesota and Athens, Georgia before moving to
Manchester, Georgia in 1977 where they lived and raised their family. During her ~40 year
education career, Joan taught English at Rugby Elementary, Yatesville Elementary, Woodbury
High and Manchester Middle Schools. Joan is survived by her two sons and their spouses: Oliver
and Karel Burns, of Marietta, Georgia, and Patrick and Nicole Burns of Greenville, South
Carolina as well as sisters Barbara Berge, Judy Jemtrud and Joyce Brothen. She is also survived
by five grandchildren: Rachel, Owen, Zachary, Harry, and Charlie.
Joan was active in her community where she was a member of Covenant United Methodist
Church in Greer, volunteered at Meals on Wheels, and participated in Furman University’s
Osher Lifelong Learning Institute. She enjoyed spending time with friends and family discussing
recently read books, playing cards and board games and gardening. A Memorial to celebrate
Joan’s life will be held at 11:00AM, Saturday October 22 at Covenant United Methodist Church,
1310 Old Spartanburg Road, Greer, South Carolina 29650. In lieu of flowers, contributions in
Joan’s honor to Meals on Wheels ( https://www.mealsonwheelsamerica.org/ ) would be
appreciated.