BURKE, Charles Bernard Dr.

BURKE, COONEY, LYNCH

Posted By: Marilyn O'Connor (email)
Date: 3/1/2005 at 18:23:02

Atlantic - July 1, 1922- With his faithful dog,
"Friday" beside him, and his head pillowed in his left arm, Dr. Charles Bernard Burke- Captain in the medical branch of the U.S. Service during the world war, local pension examiner, examining surgeon for the servicemen of the last war and a man widely know in this section in a profession in which he and few peers-- was found dead in his office rooms early in the morning on June 19.
A ruptured blood vessel indicated the cause of death. Dr Burke was one of the best known knights of southwest Iowa.

Faithful Friend on Duty.

Having complained of being ill a few days before he died, Ben Wilken a friend went to the doctor's rooms to see if there was anything he wanted. He found the doctor had "gone west" and by his side a faithful sentinel, refusing to leave the body of the master he loved so well, was the dog, "Friday" a familiar figure about town.

Dr. Burke was born in 1897 at Dougherty, Iowa, and was the youngest of thirteen children. He received part of his early education at St. Joseph's academy, Council Bluffs, and later attended the State University at Iowa City.
He finished his medical course at Northwestern University and then became an intern at the Joliet Hospital.
He later opened an office for himself in that city.
In 1908 he came to Atlantic and began the practice of medicine, associating for several years with Dr. Porterfield.
He was united in marriage in 1908 to Zella Lynch an Atlantic girl and to this union one son, Joseph Eugene was born.

Made Important Discovery.

During his life here he enjoyed a large practice and about three years ago attained prominence when he discovered a reflex symptom of typhoid fever. In medical books his discovery is cited
as "Burkes Sign". As a result of this he received honorable and worthy mention from the Mayo Brothers Institution, Rochester Minn., and letters from noted physcians in many parts of the world.

When the call came to the colors for the world war he was commissioned a captain in the medical corps and was stationed at Camp Greenleaf, S.C and served in the capacity of major part of the time.

Always an enthusiastic member of the Knights of Columbus he was selected to preside as toastmaster at the recent K.C. Initatory banquet in Atlantic on April 30.
He also belonged to the American Legion, the Elks, Eagles, Service Star Legion and several medical societies.
He also served for a time as a member of the Atlantic City Council.

Military Honors At Funeral

The funeral services were marked by full military honors. A guard of honor composed of members of the local post of the American Legion escorted the body from the house to St. Peter and Paul church where requiem high mass was celebrated by the Pastor Rev. R. N.McDermott, who eulogized the life of Dr. Burke and paid him a glowing tribute. Those who heard it were deeply affected. Co-incedent with the warm friendship which existed between them during the life of Dr. Burke was the comradeship brought about by their service in the world war.

Led by the color guard, American Legion and Service Star Legion, the funeral procession marched to the depot. Following the hearse were members of the Knights of Columbus, and other organizations in which he held membership.
The body was taken to Dougherty for interment.

An Editorial Tribute

The Atlantic News-Telegraph, to which the Caravel
acknowledges thanks for the use of the accompaning cut, paid the following editorial tribute to Dr. Burke.

"The death in this city yesteday morning of Dr. Charles B. Burke is one of the most lamentable that has ever happened in this community, removing as it does from the medical and surgical profession one of it's acknowledged brightest minds."

"Dr Burke had already attracted the attention of men of medicine and surgery throughout the world receiving the personal commendation of the Mayos as well as repeated favorable comment in medical and surgical publications for his discoveries and innovations. There were no heights to which he might not have climbed, no limit to the allevation of human suffering he might not have reached."

Dr. Burke had a wonderful personality in and out of the sick room. He encouraged and cheered his patients by his own certainty of their condition and the methods of relief or cure. His social disposition was one to attract and hold friends their name in this community and wherever he was known was legion.

When the great war involved this country, Dr. Burke was one of the first to tender his services and they were confined to camps in this country. He was a full one hundred percent American in all things pertaining to the war as well as to citizenship in peace.

To the Widow and fatherless son and to the other relatives the smpathy of this entire community goes out in unstinted measure in this their hour of sorrow.

Surviving relatives, beside his widow and son include one brother, Steve Burke of Dougherty, and four sisters, Miss Emma, Miss Alice and Mrs Joe Cooney, all of Dougherty and Sister Mary Osmunda of St. Joseph's Academy, Des Moines.