Willy Burtrum

(From Parker Mortuary)

Willy M. Burtrum, age 85 of Joplin, passed away at 3:20 a.m. on Monday, November 2, 2015 at Mercy Hospital in Joplin.

Born April 20, 1930 in rural Michigan, he was the son of the late Virgil and Faye Capps Burtrum and had lived in Joplin since 1961, moving from Miami, OK. He was a Christian. Willy served in the U.S. Air Force and held the rank of Sergeant. He received his Bachelor's degree from Northeastern Oklahoma College in Miami, OK. Willy and his son David owned and operated several car lots in Joplin, along with Joplin Honda for twenty years. For the past seventeen years he and his son have owned and operated Missouri Place Properties.

Preceding him in death were his wife, Beverly Ann McInnis Burtrum and a sister, Peggy Morrow.

Survivors include a son, David Burtrum and his wife Alaina of Joplin; a daughter, Cheri Sitton of Tulsa, OK; grandchildren, Sarah, Madelyn, Mylee and Paxton Burtrum, all of Joplin.

Funeral services will be held 1:00 p.m. Friday at Parker Mortuary with Todd Decker and Bud Powell officiating. Interment will follow at Ozark Memorial Park Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. Thursday at the mortuary.