Sumner “Sam” Washburn Burnham III was born on January 19, 1958 to Sumner Washburn II and Janice (Opitz) Burnham in York, NE. He passed into eternal rest on July 8, 2026 after a brief illness in Henderson, NE. He was united in marriage to the love of his life, Beth Gerhard on September 9, 2000 in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania
He was raised in York, Nebraska and was a graduate of York High School, class of 1976. After high school he joined the United States Marine Corps. He was stationed in Iwakuni, Japan for one year, and then at Camp Pendleton, California for two years as a clerk typist. He was honorably discharged in 1979, and returned to York. He was employed by York County as an ambulance driver, and later became a registered nurse. He was employed by several area nursing homes over the years.
He was preceded in death by his parents, James W. Lundy and Janice E. Lundy, both of York.
He is survived by his wife of 25 years, Beth of Henderson, his stepchildren Rebecca and Aaron Shafer, all of Henderson. He is also survived by his brother Randall J. Burnham and his family of Lincoln, and his sister Patricia L. Kroeker and her husband, also of Henderson.
Memorial services with military honors are scheduled for 10:30 a.m., Friday, July 17, 2026 at Faith Evangelical Bible Church in Henderson, NE, with the Reverend Bob Stretch officiating. Sam has been cremated there will be no viewing. However, a signing of his book will be Thursday from 1-9 p.m., with his family greeting friends and neighbors from 6-8 p.m., that same evening all at the mortuary in Henderson. Memorials may be directed to York Adopt-A-Pet.