Bill Burke Sr. (1928-2010)
BURKE, FIGEL, SCHEWE, BURIANEK, LEPPER, HOLMES, NEHRING, KATKE
Posted By: Nevada Journal
Date: 7/13/2010 at 00:07:35
THE NEVADA JOURNAL, Nevada, Story County, Iowa, Thursday, July 8, 2010.
After a long and courageous battle with a number of health issues, Bill Burke Sr. died peacefully surrounded by family on July 2, 2010, at Mary Greeley Medical Center in Ames. A wake service will be held from 4 to 8 p.m., Friday, July 9, in the Burke Chapel at St. Cecilia Church in Ames. A prayer service will be conducted at 7:30 p.m. A Mass of Christian burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, July 10, at St. Cecilia Church with Father Terry Rassmussen presiding. Burial with full military honors will follow at the Ames Municipal Cemetery.
Bill was born in St. Louis, Mo., on July 31, 1928, to Ralph and Emma (Figel) Burke. He grew up in Wauwatosa, Wis. After high school graduation, he enlisted in the U.S. Army and served two years in Korea before the conflict.
Bill married Alice Schewe, the love of his life, on April 6, 1951, and graduated from the University of Wisconsin—Madison in May 1951. Bill and Alice made their home in Milwaukee, where their six children were born. While in Milwaukee, Bill worked for Patrick Cudahy and twice ran for U.S. Congress.
He, Alice and family relocated to Dubuque, Iowa, in 1960. There he again became involved in local politics.
In 1964, Bill accepted a position with Supreme Foods in Ames. Bill eventually bought the company and it became Pronto Food Kitchens, later Burke Corporation. When the company outgrew its Ames location, the business moved to Nevada, where numerous expansions have grown the company to more than 350 employees.
When Alice became terminally ill in 1991, Bill unofficially retired from Burke Corporation but remained an active and interested board member and founder.
After Alice’s death in 1993, Bill became more involved in Ames and Nevada charitable causes. As a result of his own health issues, Bill tirelessly campaigned for diabetes education, especially at the pre-diabetic stage.
In 2003, Bill and friend Claudia Nehring sponsored the adoption of Joe and Maria Nehring from Russia.
Bill was preceded in death by his parents and his stepmother; his wife, Alice; and their infant daughter Barbara. He is survived by his children: Kathleen Burke; Karen and Terry Burianek and their sons, Steven and Timothy; Bill and Sue Burke Jr. and their children, Allison, Lauren and Lindsay Burke and Amanda and Austin Lepper and their daughters, Eloise and Charlotte; Kriss Holmes and her children, Jennifer and Alex; Tom and Teri Burke and their children, Brandon, Vanessa and Marissa; and friend Claudia Nehring and children, Joe and Maria Nehring. Bill also is survived by his siblings: Marie Katke, Bob (Nancy) Burke, Betty (John) Lemmer, Glen Burke, Paul (Connie) Burke and Ralph (Laura) Burke. In addition, he has numerous surviving nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews, and many friends.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be directed to the William J. Burke Sr. Memorial Fund at Mary Greeley Medical Center. Funding primarily will be directed to the peritoneal/home hemodialysis programs and the diabetes education program.
Online remembrances may be left at www.stevensmemorialchapel.com.
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