Rev. Jerry L. Burns

Rev. Jerry L. Burns, son of the late Oscar Burns and Ollie Burns (née Brown), was born May 29, 1947, in Portsmouth, Ohio, and was promoted to his eternal reward on June 9, 2026. He attended the public schools of Scioto County and was a 1965 graduate of Portsmouth East High School.

Jerry was born into a godly Christian Home. He often said that he never witnessed a strong disagreement between his parents. The option of not attending church was never offered in their home. He grew up loving God and determined at an early age to be a minister of the Gospel and to serve as a Foreign Missionary.

Jerry was mightily blessed by God with a wonderful singing voice. He started singing solos in church services at the age of 3 and unknowingly began his “professional” singing career at about the age of 7 or 8. He would walk through the “woods” to the old country general store. The proprietor would lift him up to stand on the countertop. He would then delight the patrons of the store with his songs and be recompensed with “penny candy.”

Through the years, Jerry’s singing ministry has been a blessing to many as he used it liberally in his far-flung travels, both domestically and internationally.

After attending Ohio University and the Apostolic Bible Institute in St. Paul, Minnesota, he was united in holy matrimony to the lovely Beth Suzanne Schmidt in September of 1971. Their union was blessed with 3 children, all of them born overseas while their parents served as Foreign Missionaries.

A brief summary of Jerry’s 55+ years of ministry includes almost 23 years of Foreign Missionary service in Venezuela, the Dominican Republic, and over 95 countries of the world, serving 11 years at the United Pentecostal Church International World Headquarters in St. Louis, Missouri, and pastoring Living Word Church in Rio Rancho, New Mexico for 17 years.

Jerry was an instrument rated private pilot and used his plane extensively for ministry in the Dominican Republic and the Caribbean region.

Ministry and ministerial executive positions he held through the years included National Secretary Treasurer of the United Pentecostal Church of Venezuela, Field Superintendent of the UPC of the Dominican Republic, Executive Assistant UPCI World Headquarters, Hazelwood, Missouri, Member of UPCI General Board and District Superintendent of the UPCI Texico District.

Additional positions held with UPCI Global Missions included the Texico District Global Missions Director; Coordinator of Global Evangelism Ministries; Coordinator of Multimedia Ministries; two-times Chairman of the Veterans of Global Missions Association; Global Missions’ Global Educator; and Translations Coordinator for Global Association of Theological Studies (GATS).

Jerry always felt that his most cherished legacy would be the hundreds of spiritual sons and daughters that he left spread around the world. He loved people and loved pouring himself unselfishly into their lives.

Jerry’s life of service will forever be cherished in the lives of his beautiful wife Beth Suzanne Burns, children: Jerry Burns, Jr. (Kimberly) of Caseyville, IL, Faith Schobert (Steven) of Josephine, TX, Amber Kleiman of Fort Worth, TX., grandchildren: Korey Jones and Charity Jones of Atlanta, GA, Caitlin Burns of Caseyville, IL, Christin Lollis (Micheal) of Washington DC, Renee Benson (Micah) of Walker, MI, Joel Kleiman and Brielle Kleiman of Swartz Creek, MI.

Jerry was preceded in death by his parents, Oscar and Ollie Burns, brother Cecil Burns, and sister Karen Parker.

Jerry is also survived by brothers David Burns (Sharon) of Kansas City, MO; Dennis Burns (Kathy) of St. Paul, MN.

While flowers are appreciated, those who wish may also honor Bro. Burns with a gift to establish an Apostolic Legends Scholarship at Urshan University in his honor. Select the "Jerry Burns Memorial" fund at: https://www.northcities.org/give

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Memorial preparations are under the direction of Baue Funeral Homes of St. Peters, MO. Visitation and Home Going Service will be held at The Sanctuary UPC, 965 Anglum Road, Hazelwood, MO 63042 on Friday June 19, 2026. Visitation will be from 9 AM till 11 AM. Home Going Service will immediately follow visitation with Pastor Mitchell Bland officiating. Private interment will be at the St. Charles Memorial Gardens in St. Peters, MO.