Thomas Dean Burns was born to Francis and Monica (Rooney) Burns on December 7, 1945 at Tecumseh, Nebraska. Tom was baptized at the St. Andrew Catholic Church in Tecumseh, Nebraska. He attended country school from K-8th grade and graduated from Tecumseh High School in 1964. Tom attended Lincoln School of Commerce.

He served his country in the U.S. Air Force from his enlistment January 20, 1967 until his honorable discharge from active duty on January 6, 1971 at the McGuire AFB in New Jersey and served in the reserves until January 19, 1974. Tom attained the rank of Staff Sergeant during his time in the military.

Tom was united in marriage to Sandra Allbright on November 14, 1975. They made their home in Lincoln, where Tom worked for the Lincoln Postal Service for many years. Sandra passed away December 14, 2018. In his spare time, Tom enjoyed bowling, going to the Iowa casinos and doing genealogy of the Burns and Rooney families. Tom passed away October 17, 2022 in Lincoln, Nebraska at the age of 76 years.

He is survived by his brothers Mike Burns and wife Elaine of Stockton, CA and twin brother Bob Burns, Sr. and wife Jean of Humboldt, mother-in-law, Margaret Allbright of Lincoln, sisters-in-law and brother- in-law, Barbara Steele and husband Greg and Gary Allbright of Fairbury and Krista Allbright of Omaha, nieces and nephews, Erica Albers, Jim Albers, Bobbi Albers, Tyler John Burns, Robert Burns, Jr., Mike Burns, Patty Burns, Dean Pohlman, Larry Pohlman, Angela Barr, Erik Nankivil, Chris Hobbs, Jerry Chubick and Ann Rose and their spouses and numerous great and great-great-nieces and nephews.

Tom was preceded in death by parents, wife, father-in-law, brothers John Burns and wife Shirley and Pat Burns and wife Norman, sister Frances Hobbs and husband Dale, nieces Kelly Nankivil, Stacey Burns and Deann Chubick, nephews, Doug and David Hobbs and sister-in-law Beatrice Burns.