Robert J. Burns
Robert J. Burns
Bob, as he was known to family and friends, was born May 12, 1941, to Francis (Bud) Burns and Thelma (Kane) Burns at Mercy Hospital in Des Moines, Iowa. He passed away at home on April 1, 2026, after an extended illness. He attended St. Anthony School class of 1955 and graduated from Dowling High School in 1959.
Bob began his career in the field of golf course maintenance at Wakonda Golf Course and then became golf course superintendent at Clarinda and Shenandoah. His biggest career move was to Beaver Hills Golf and Country Club in Cedar Falls, Iowa. After he retired, he moved to St. George, Utah, and eventually to Phoenix, Ariz. He was a retired lifetime member of the Golf Course Superintendent Association of America and was a former president of the Iowa GCSA (1974).
Bob is survived by his wife, Diane, and two sons, David (Magnolia) Burns of Avondale, Ariz., and Richard Burns of Janesville, Iowa; five grandchildren and one great–grandchild; his two sisters, Jo Shean of Indianola, Iowa, and Colleen (David) Deets of Des Moines, Iowa; as well as a host of extended family and friends. As per Bob’s wishes, there are no services. If you would like to honor his memory, donations may be made to Hospice of the Valley.
Gretchen Wegener Martin
Gretchen Wegener Martin
It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Gretchen Wegener Martin, who passed away on March 30, 2026, at the age of 87.
Born in El Paso, Texas, in 1939, Gretchen was the youngest of three girls (sisters Rosemary and Bernadette (predeceased)). Gretchen grew up in El Paso and attended Texas Western College (now the University of Texas at El Paso (“UTEP”)), where she earned her degree in education. In 1961, she moved to Riverside, Calif., where she began her career as an elementary school teacher.
While teaching in Riverside, Gretchen met her beloved husband, Neill Martin (predeceased), whom she married in 1962. Married for 59 years (up until his passing in 2021), they built a life filled with love, adventure, travel, and a strong focus on family. Gretchen, Neill, and family moved to Mallorca, Spain, in 1968, then to Caracas, Venezuela, in 1970 and finally settling in Calgary, Canada, in 1973. For the past 27 years, they have split their time between Calgary and Phoenix, forming lasting friendships in both cities.
Gretchen had a tireless spirit and a love of travel, visiting every continent and embracing cultures around the world. She had a lifelong passion for sports and was an accomplished tennis player, an avid golfer, and later a devoted pickleball player. She also enjoyed playing bridge and participating in numerous social events in her communities.
A devoted and selfless mother, Gretchen was the consummate teacher, both in the classroom and with her three children, who proudly describe her as the “World’s Most Magnificent Mom.” Her children and grandchildren were her pride and joy and she took particular pride in her children’s and grandchildren’s academic, athletic, and theatrical achievements.
Gretchen was generous and deeply committed to helping others through her church and through her work supporting underprivileged children. A devout Catholic, she attended weekly Mass and lived her faith fully. She will be missed by her congregations in Calgary and Phoenix.
Gretchen is survived by her sister, Rosemary; her three children, Chris (Michelle), Michelle (John), and Greg (Alexis); and her four grandchildren, Tiffany (Logan), Nicholas, Ben, and Alexandra.
A celebration of Gretchen’s life will be held at a later date when the family can all be together.
Please visit gretchen-martin.forevermissed.com and request an invite to her memorial site if you would like to share memories or tributes.
Ann R. Johnson
Ann R. Johnson
May 3, 1935–Feb. 6, 2026
Ann R. Johnson, age 90, passed away peacefully on Feb. 6, 2026—on the wedding anniversary she shared with her beloved husband, Durke Johnson, who preceded her in death on March 3, 2019. Their marriage was truly a love for the ages, and many who knew them saw in Ann and Durke a partnership built on devotion, laughter, and deep respect.
Ann was a cherished and familiar presence in the PebbleCreek community, where she and Durke made their home beginning in 1998 after relocating from Parker, Colo. Together, they embraced life in PebbleCreek wholeheartedly and became true ambassadors of the community and its residents.
For decades, Ann was an icon at the Eagle’s Nest Fitness Center, where she worked checking members in, greeting everyone with warmth, cleaning equipment when things were quiet, and ensuring rules were followed with fairness and care. Through her work, Ann formed countless friendships and touched the lives of so many who passed through those doors. Her presence there was steady, welcoming, and unforgettable.
Earlier in life, Ann and Durke were fortunate to live in California, Minnesota, Colorado, and Brussels, Belgium. Their time abroad sparked a lifelong love of travel, taking them throughout Europe and to far reaching destinations including China, New Zealand, and Japan. Ann carried those experiences with curiosity and joy, always appreciative of the people and places she encountered.
Ann is survived by her loving family: her daughter Denise Ashton, her son Steve Johnson and daughter–in–law Sally Johnson, five grandchildren, and 12 great–grandchildren—a remarkable and loving legacy, especially meaningful as Ann herself was an only child. Her family was her pride, her joy, and her greatest accomplishment.
Ann will be remembered for her kindness, strong work ethic, welcoming spirit, and the deep love she shared with her family, friends, and community. Her life was full, her impact lasting, and her memory will live on in the many lives she touched.
While she leaves a void in the family left behind, her fun laughter and unconditional love will be with us forever!