Rita Frances (Hancock) Burke 1922 - 2006

BURKE, QUILLIN, HANCOCK, SCHULTE, STAGGEMEYER, JONES, BLOCKER, MEINDL, DELPHEY, TEFF, MCCORMICK, GROHALL

Posted By: Errin Wilker (email)
Date: 1/14/2007 at 10:33:21

Rita Frances Burke, 84, died Thursday, Dec. 28, 2006 at St. Francis Hospital in La Crosse, WI. Funeral services were held Tuesday, Jan. 2 at St. Patrick's Catholic Church with Rev. Joseph Schneider officiating. Burial was at St. Mary's Cemetery in Hanover. Casketbearers were Jeff Meindl, Tom Meindl, Brian Delphey, Brad Delphey, James Burke, Jason Burke, Chad Staggemeyer, and Josh Teff.

Rita Frances Burke was born in Makee Township Nov. 24, 1922 to Fred and Nellie (Quillin) Hancock. She attended Allamakee County Schools through the eighth grade where she was honored for having 100 perfect spelling lessons. Before marriage she worked as a housekeeper, a job which honed her skills for a lifetime as a housewife and mother. She delighted in a meticulous home and in serving guests a big, delicious farm meal.

Rita married James Burke in Missouri February 6, 1942. They lived in Hanover Township and moved to Waukon in 1977.

Rita particularly enjoyed watching children discover nature's wonders. She played lots of games with her own children and loved a good game of cards or bingo throughout her life. After her children were on their own, Rita rejoined the workforce. For a time she was a nurse's aid at the Good Samaritan Center where she lived during her last year. She also volunteered at Makee Manor and helped out with the kindergarten children at St. Patrick's School. She was an active member of the VFW Ladies Auxiliary.

Rita was preceded in death by her parents, Fred and Nellie Hancock; her husband, James Burke; her brothers Vince (Loretta) Hancock and Bill (Connie) Hancock; and sister, Rose (Vince) Schulte; her son, Lyle Burke; her granddaugher, La Dawn Staggemeyer; her step-grandson, Michael Jones; and 15 brothers-and-sisters-in-law.

Survivors include a sister, Jeanne Blocker of Waukon; her daughters Judy (Howard) Meindl of Minneapolis, MN, Mary Kay (Richard) Delphey of Lansing, Betty (Dean) Staggemeyer of Eitzen, MN, Peggy (Tom) Teff of Dorchester; and sons John (Alice) Burke of Lansing, and Pat (Maggie) Burke of Waterloo; three sisters-in-law, Mary McCormick and Evelyn Burke of Waukon, and Margaret Grohall of La Crosse, WI; 12 grandchildren, five step-grandchildren, and 14 great-grandchildren and six step-great-grandchildren.

Source: Waukon Standard

Allamakee Obituaries maintained by Sharyl Ferrall.
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