Burton Kilbourne

Dr. Burton C. Kilbourne age 91, of 778 Hillside Terrance, Ripon, died Sunday morning, May 26, 2002, at Ripon Medical Center.

He was born August 12, 1910, in Minneapolis, KS, the son of Burton Kane and Daisy (Conwell) Kilbourne. He was a graduate of North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND, and Northwestern University Medical School, 1936; Diplomate American Board of Surgeons, intern at St. Luke’s Hospital in Chicago, 1935; resident in surgery, University of Illinois Research Education Hospital, Chicago, 1936; Physician, Presbyterian St. Luke’s Hospital, 1941-1971. Surgeon, International Harvester, 1936-1970; attending surgeon; emeritus physician, Ripon Memorial Hospital, 1970-1982; Fellow American College of Surgeons, Wisconsin Surgery Association; Central States Industrial Surgery, Western Surgical Society; Warren Cole Society; Author, numerous articles and chapters of surgery and surgical techniques; Adj. Professor, University of Chicago; University of Illinois.

Burt Kilbourne will be best remembered for the ways in which he shared his own talents and skills with others. His family remembers his constant encouragement and support of them in whatever they did. He believed in each one of them and their pursuits, helped them when they were in trouble and championed them always. He enjoyed two long and successful marriages. Marjorie Janet Tufts Kilbourne was his first wife, with whom he shared the raising of 4 children, Karen, Barbara, Sally and Steven. After the untimely deaths of Marge and of Howard Hansen, Burt and Helen Exner Hansen Kilbourne, known to all as “Bunny”, married. Together they nutured and cared for their new beloved family of six adult children.

Burt’s medical career was a gift to all those whom he helped. He taught and mentored other surgeons, as well as related health professionals, continuously reseached new ideas, gave compassionate and thoughtful treatment to those who came to him for care. He was an accomplished general surgeon, but his career all included hand and orthopedic surgery. He worked tirelessly to improve health conditions in the communities he was part of. Notably, he promoted and developed safer working conditions and practices for the steel workers, miners, and production workers of the International Harvester Companies (IH) where he was engaged as an industrial surgeon for more than 30 years. Classified as essential personnel during World War II because of his IH role, he and his associates researched the repair of broken bones using steel plates and screws, providing information and assistance to the field during and after the war. He was Commissioner, Green Lake Board of Sanitation. He worked to improve sanitary conditions of Green Lake, so that people would be able to enjoy a healthy lake for generations to come; while his work was unsuccessful at the time he lived long enough to see his and other’s ideas come to fruition. Burt also brought to Ripon his experience of working in Illinois on the State Trauma Board, and contributed to the development an effective trauma plan for the community of Ripon.

Burt was an avid sailor, skier and golfer, and introduced many others to those sports. He sailed every Saturday and Sunday for many years in the Green Lake Fleet. He enjoyed downhill and cross-country skiing into his 80’s. He shot his first golf hole-in-one at the age of 87 and the year before his death was still playing golf 2 to 3 times a week. He was a member of the Ripon Kiwanis Club.

Finally Burt Kilbourne will be most remembered for his love of music and his talent as a pianist and singer. Music was a thread that drew together his whole life and the community of people around him. From a boy soprano, singing in churches and programs in Kansas and later in North Dakota, to his “barnstorming” days in North Dakota as a pianist and singer with a dance combo, through medical school when he played with another small band, to his St. Cecelia’s Day musical parties, music was his defining element. He shared his piano talent with others tirelessly volunteering to play the piano for many community events and non-profit groups. He shared widely audio tapes of his playing and singing. He was a founding board member of the Green Lake Festival of Music, and continued to support it throughout his life culminating with the naming of the Festival’s new piano as the Burt and Helen Kilbourne piano.

Survivors include 3 daughters, Karen Thiel of Bayfield, Barbara Kilbourne of Lilydale, MN and Sally Kilbourne of Brisbane, Australia; stepdaughter, Helen Hansen of St. Paul, MN; stepson, Howard Hansen of Moorhead, MN; son, Steven Kilbourne of Mukilteo. WA; 8 grandchildren; 3 great-grandchildren; and sister, Katherine Burgum of Fargo, ND. He was preceded in death by parents; two wives, Marjorie Kilbourne and Helen Hansen Kilbourne; and three brothers, James, Kenneth and Richard Kilbourne.

A Memorial Service will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, May 30, 2002, at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, Ripon with the Rev. Kenneth Guy. Inurnment will be in Dartford Cemetery, Green Lake. In lieu of flowers, the family would prefer memorials to the Ripon Medical Center.

Butzin-Marchant Funeral Home, Ripon, is assisting the family.
www.butzinmarchant.com