By Pat Maurer
Correspondent
Former Clare City Clerk Christine Burns, the current Village Manager of Spring Lake, died unexpectedly at her home in Spring Lake on Wednesday, September 27th. She was 54 years-old.
She had a long career in local government, serving municipalities including Clare, Oxford and Cedar Springs before her final position at the Village of Spring Lake.
Burns, a graduate of Central Michigan University, was named president of the Michigan Municipal Executives at the group’s ‘Winter Institute’ in Grand Rapids, held January 31 to February 3rd.
She began her career in Clare serving in various positions including as Deputy City Clerk; three years as the Executive Assistant to City Manager Ken Hibl; and was named Clare City Clerk beginning in 2000, serving in that position until she left Clare in 2005 to take a position as clerk-treasurer and assistant manager in the Village of Oxford. She was named city manager of Cedar Springs in 2007, remaining there until July of 2012 when she became the first female city manager in the Village of Spring Lake.
Chris was a Clare Native, the daughter of James and Emily (Northon) Mester. She was married to William L. Burns Jr. September 22, 1990 and the couple raised two children; Bradley Burns and Breanna (Corey) Lee, and an adopted son Daniel Ojeda Juarez. They have one grandson, Liam Lee.
Her family posted the following on Christine’s Facebook page:
“It is with a very heavy heart that we let all of Chris’s friends know she has passed away unexpectedly. We are taking time as a family to grieve this unconceivable loss. We appreciate the kind words, thoughts, and prayers everyone has sentWe will post funeral details once they have been made. Hug your loved ones. There’s never enough time.” -Bre and Bill
Funeral services for Christine were held October 5th at the Spring Lake Presbyterian Church. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donations to the Christing M. Burns Memorial Scholarship for Professional Leadership in Local Government through the Grand Haven Community Foundation.