Obituary of William C. Burnett II

William Chester Burnett II, more commonly known as Rhino, 58 of Somers, CT passed away late Sunday, March 16th, 2025 at Yale New Haven Hospital, after a prolonged battle with ILD.  Rhino was many things to many people. He was a friend, a son, a brother, a father, an uncle, a husband, and, most notably, a stubborn pain in the ass who we couldn’t help but love.  Rhino was a talented artist who collected things as much as he created them.  He was a gamer who loved everything having to do with his favorite games, mainly Dungeons and Dragons. He could routinely be found painting miniatures, drawing maps, or arguing with his gaming buddies about any number of things. He loved his family above all others and is survived by his two children Arieanna & Kathryn Burnett, his lifelong partner Nikki Burnett, his mother Patricia Burnett, and his Sister Brooke-Ann Shlosser, as well as several nieces and a nephew.  He is also survived by the family he chose, his brothers Philip Robichaud, Norman Morin, and Charles Gray-Wolf. 

Rhino always wished to be cremated and planted as a tree, and the family is honoring that wish. His ashes will be planted this spring. A celebration of life will be held at the American Legion, 339 Brick Top Rd, Windham, from 1 pm to 5 pm on Sunday, March 30, 2025. We will play board games, have snacks, share stories, and spend time together as a family.   

In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations to the memorial fund attached below to aid in the funding of expenses at https://www.mealtrain.com/trains/qg44ol. Share a memory at Smithandwalkerfh.com