Wayne Township Trustee Sheila Burner died Saturday, just a few days short of fulfilling her third term in office.
She was 78.
Burner was set to retire from office Monday and had been struggling with health issues.
As part of her role as trustee, Burner served on the Warsaw-Wayne Township Fire Territory board.
She was unable to attend her final territory board meeting on Dec. 4, but officials, led by Mayor Joe Thallemer, assembled at Burner’s house and gave her a plaque and well wishes in an impromptu gathering in her kitchen.
“Knowing her, I knew she would like that,” Thallemer said. “It was an end of an era and she deserved our personal thank you.
“The city sends condolences to the family and more importantly, thanks the family for her public service,” Thallemer said.
Burner was first elected trustee in 2006 when she won a three-way race that included incumbent trustee Dan Slone.
Thallemer and others credit Burner with playing a significant role in developing the fire territory and then construction of a third fire station, which opened this summer south of Warsaw.
Thallemer called it a bold move on Burner’s part to support the merger of the township fire department with the Warsaw Fire Department.
Despite the tax consequences that came with the merger, “she knew it was more important that there was that response time that was necessary,” Thallemer said. “Once we got the fire territory, the next thing she knew was that we needed that third station to service the township.”
Former Mayor Ernie Wiggins recalled working closely with Burner to establish the fire territory about 10 years ago.
“If it hadn’t been for her involvement with the city of Warsaw, that territory probably would not have happened,” Wiggins said.
Arrangements through McHatton-Sadler Funeral Chapel were still pending this morning.
Burner had been married to longtime Superior Court Judge Robert Burner, who died in 2011.
Jeanie Stackhouse was elected in November and will replace Burner as trustee beginning Jan. 2.
