John Frederick “Jack” Burst passed away peacefully on June 28 in Rolla, Mo., with his family by his side.
He was born on Oct. 16, 1923, in St. Louis, Mo., to the late John F. Burst and Douetta (Haag) Burst.
Jack graduated from Cleveland High School in St. Louis. He received two degrees, a B.S. and M.S. in Ceramic Engineering from the Missouri School of Mines and Metallurgy in Rolla and a doctorate in Geology and Geophysics at UMR.
Jack served in World War II in the Army Corps of Engineers as a lieutenant. He further served his country in the United States Army reserve and retired at the rank of colonel. Dr. Burst began his professional career in Houston, Texas, with Shell Development Laboratory doing research in earth sciences and established himself as a prolific author of more than 50 professional publications in the field of geology, mineralogy, energy, and ceramics.
He then became corporate director of technology for General Refractories Co. in Philadelphia, and went on to become director of research and VP for Dresser Minerals in Houston, Texas, and Pittsburgh, Pa. Jack was the originator of Triangle Environmental Science and Engineering Inc. in Rolla serving as president for 18 years.
He received an A.P. Green Fellow from the University of Missouri, Columbia, a Fellow from the Geological Society of America, and was a past president of the Clay Minerals Society of America. He also served as chairman of the Industrial Minerals Division of the Society of Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration and served as president of the Society of Mining Engineering. He received the Medal of Honor from the Russian Academy of Natural Sciences for his published theories on oil field discovery methods.
Dr. Burst was very involved with Rotary Club in Rolla and was named a Paul Harris Fellow. He enjoyed genealogy and spending time with his children and grandchildren.
He is survived by his wife, Mary Anne Burst (nee) Bartlett, Missy and Matthew Little and Ann Bartlett Burst of Houston, Texas, John Frederick III of Santa Clara, Calif., and Patricia and Shawn Fears of Godfrey, Ill., and his grandchildren, Jack and Melissa Little and Julianne, Jessica and Justin Fears.
A visitation for family and friends will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, July 1, at the Null & Son Funeral Home, 1010 Kingshighway, Rolla, Mo., 65401.
There will also be a visitation at the Kutis Funeral Home, 5255 Lemay Ferry Rd., St. Louis, Mo., 63129-1401 from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, July 2.
The funeral service will be held at 11:30 a.m. Friday, July 3, at the Carondelet United Church of Christ, 7423 Michigan Ave., St. Louis.
Burial with full military honors will follow in the Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery.
Memorial contributions are suggested to the Rolla Noon Rotary Club, in care of the Null & Son Funeral Home.