BURKE, Thomas H. 1859-1953

BURKE, SAUNDERS, HUMES, DORNEDEN, SHORNHORST, RICHMOND

Posted By: D Fox Engelhardt (email)
Date: 8/13/2011 at 10:14:20

Birth: Oct. 2, 1859
Death: Feb., 1953

Tom Burke, Riceville's Oldest Resident
Dies After Short Illness

Funeral service was held Tuesday at the Immaculate conception Catholic church for Thomas H. Burke, 93, who was a life-long resident of Riceville and vicinity. He was taken by death Saturday after a short illness.

Mr. Burke was born on October 2, 1859, to Edmund and Mary Burke on their farm west of town.

He married Katherine Saunders November 29, 1888, in Darlington, Wisconsin. The couple homesteaded near Riceville.

His father was a civic-minded person and did what he could to help his church and community. He gave a portion of his land, located at the south end of town, on Woodland Avenue, to be used as a cemetery, and he was the first person to be buried there. Thus Thomas Burke was born, lived for 50 years, and was buried on the same section of land.

Thomas and his wife settled on the old homestead following their marriage. To them were born 10 children, nine of whom survive as follows; Nellie Humes, Margate City, N.J.; Edmond Burke, Cleveland, Ohio; Marie and Stacia Dorneden (twin sisters who married brothers) both of Gratiot, Wis.; Robert Burke, Waterloo; Francis Burke of home; James Burke of El Centro Cal.; Irene Shornhorst, Waterloo. The tenth child, Thomas died in infancy.

Also surviving is a sister, Mrs. Mary Richmond of Los Angeles, Calif.

He was preceded in death by his brothers, John and Will and sisters Katie and Nell. His wife, Katherine, died in December of 1945.