Bessie Frances Burke, 22 Feb 1923 - 26 Apr 2014

BURKE, WOODSON, ALDEN, THOMPSON, KOEHN, JANDA, CLYMER

Posted By: Sandy Ficken (email)
Date: 5/6/2014 at 13:59:23

Bessie Burke, 91

Funeral service for Bessie Burke, 91, Marengo, was held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, April 30, at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Marengo. She died Saturday, April 26, 2014, at Highland Ridge Care Center, Williamsburg.

The Rev. Andrew Gray officiated at the service.

Burial was in St. John’s Lutheran Cemetery, rural Victor.

Memorials may be made to St. John’s Lutheran Church, Marengo, or St. John’s Lutheran Church, Victor.

Kloster Funeral Home, Marengo, was in charge of arrangements. Online condolences may be left at www.klosterfuneralhome.com.

Bessie Frances Burke was born Feb. 22, 1923, in rural Shellsburg, the daughter of Ira and Lucy Alden Woodson. She graduated from Shellsburg High School in 1941. She was employed at Collins Radio from 1942 to 1947, helping to make the radios used in World War II.

She married Roland William Burke June 15, 1947, at Trinity Lutheran Church, Cedar Rapids. She worked with her husband on the farm in rural Guernsey for many years. Following their retirement, the couple relocated to Marengo.

She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She was very active in her church, whether it was St. John’s in rural Victor or later, St. John’s in Marengo. She was a Sunday school teacher, choir member and Ladies Aid member.

Music had always been an important part of her life. She sang for many weddings and funerals. She delivered sermon tapes for many years to fellow members who could no longer attend church services.

She enjoyed reading, needlework projects and creating many special pieces. She liked playing cards with family and friends, working jigsaw puzzles and especially, playing dominoes with her grandchildren.

After her eyesight failed, she listened to the Bible and other reading material with audio tapes. Her Lord, family and music were her cherished joys in life.

Burke is survived by three sons, Lewis (Joyce), Marengo; Douglas (Marla) Clive, and Bruce (Kathy), Amana; one daughter, Marcia Burke, Williamsburg; six grandchildren, Matthew Thompson, Clive; James Thompson, Ames; Nathan Burke, Des Moines; Sunny Burke, Ames; Shelly (Joseph) Koehn, Millersburg, and Shayna (Nicholas) Janda, Cedar Rapids; four great-grandchildren, Cameron Thompson, Evan and Abby Koehn and James Janda; one sister-in-law, Eleanor Woodson, and many loving nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, in 1999; her parents; five brothers, Ora, Leon, Homer and Ronald Woodson and Willard in infancy, and one sister, Louis Clymer.

The Williamsburg Journal Tribune, 01 May 2014
The Gazette, 28 Apr 2014