One of the greatest people I know passed away to the left life April 24, 2014. It was a sad day getting the call that my grandfather Jerry Burtenshaw wasn't feeling well and was taken to the hospital. A short while later his mission on earth had come to an end, and a new mission in the next life had just begun. It started out just as any usual morning waking up, getting ready, grandma fixing breakfast. Grandpa called his neighbor friend Fred to come over and bring his cat, he had nice in the barn. A short while later my grandpa ventured out to his lawnmower for his last outing at the barn where Fred would soon meet him to fix his mouse problem. Little did he know mice were the least of his worries. While Fred was over my grandpa started feeling sick, he kept saying he just didn't feel well. They got up to the house to get grandma but she was already out doing errands. Next they called my mom, grandpa told Fred the number but no one answered. In that short amount of time grandpa couldn't remember Mitzi's phone number to call. Luckily Syd was walking through soon after and my mom called back and came up to the house. They tried putting him in the car to drive to the hospital but he couldn't see and said he felt very heavy. Not being able to put him in the car they called the ambulance and off they went. Some waited for my grandma to come home to drive her to the hospital, all of his kids went to the hospital to be with him. Unfortunately for us he didn't make it. His heart had given out and gave him no choice but to move on. The doctors did all they could but heaven needed him more. I know he was sad to leave his family but I also know he had a firm testimony in the gospel of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He knows that God lives and that because of our Savior sacrificing his life for us, this was not the end with his family. He will be again reunited with his eternal love and companion and the rest of his loving family still on earth if they chose to accept Christ. I know he is preparing to meet us when we cross over as I am sure he was reuntied with father and mother that were already waiting for him. He can now walk without crouches and have no physical limitations. Even though it's sad to be apart I know he is happy and in a better place, and it will be a very happy day when I get to hug him again.
This is a picture of my grandpa when he was about 3 years old with his horse "ol queen".
The viewing was beautiful, my aunts did a wonderful job picking out pictures and flowers. We had out index cards for people to write memories, it will be fun going through and reading those good times. They put out his famous treat bucket which included my favorite watermelon tootsie rolls! And his favorite black licorice and other yummy goodies. When we were little grandpa would have us sing him a song so we could pick a treat out of the treat bucket. We went out to Annis and checked the grave site, it's a beautiful little place. A lot of the Ellis's are buried in Annis, more of the Burtenshaw's are buried in Ririe.
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