Patrick Joseph Burns, 66

Dr. Pat Burns passed from this life unexpectedly Nov. 4, 2019, while caring for his land and the trees he so loved. His beloved dogs were by his side.

Pat was born July 31, 1953, in Philadelphia. He attended La Salle University and Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. His initial internship and medical residency was at the Chicago College and Hospital of Osteopathic Medicine, followed by a neurology residency at George Washington University Hospital.

He discovered his love for Montana during his early years of work in Poplar and then Browning, where he began frequenting Glacier National Park. He moved to the Flathead Valley soon after, where he made his home for the remainder of his life, while continuing to provide medical services in Browning for many years.

He is survived by his brother, Jack, and his wife, Doreen, niece Kimberly, and cousin, Jeanne, as well as his chosen family of office staff and a small group of close friends. He cherished them with all his heart, and one could not imagine having had a more loyal or generous friend.

Pat was a brilliant and caring neurologist, establishing the first fully accredited sleep medicine center in Northwest Montana and practicing in Kalispell for 31 years at Glacier Neuroscience and Spine Center, then later at Glacier Headache and Sleep Medicine Center. He couldn’t imagine retiring, as his devotion to his patients and area of study was integral to who he was. Pat’s lectures were dynamic and he could relate his wealth of knowledge to audiences of diverse backgrounds and interests.

Intellectually, Pat’s curiosity was insatiable. With an impressive memory, he could easily recall pages of medical research, scripts from films, and details of historic events to support his philosophies. He had a huge personality and was intensely passionate about his opinions and ideas, much to the delight and, sometimes, dismay, of his friends and colleagues! Baseball was a great love of his, from the design of the fields to the strategies of the players. He loved the workings of Google Earth and the study of architectural design. His talent is evidenced in the structure and details of his homes.

As a champion rescuer of abandoned, abused and injured dogs, he provided an idyllic existence for his pets and treated them as his children. His dogs were equally happy swimming in Flathead Lake, hiking trails with him in the woods, and being comfort pets at his medical office.

Another passion of Pat’s was the natural world. He relished hiking in the mountains of Glacier Park with good friends, as well as “in the woods” near his home. He looked forward to summers on Flathead Lake, swimming daily with his “pups,” and touring on his jet ski.

Dr. Patrick Burns, you were loved and you will be missed.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Mission Valley Animal Shelter or RezQ Dogs.