BURKE, Elizabeth 'Betty' 1926-2000

BLAKE, MAUSS, BURKE, MONSON, WELPER, COLSCH, BECKER, STROTHMAN

Posted By: IA GenWeb Volunteer
Date: 10/8/2010 at 08:39:09

Decorah Public Opinion, Tuesday, May 23, 2000

Elizabeth 'Betty' Burke

Elizabeth "Betty" Burke, 73, died at her home Wednesday, May 10, 2000, after a courageous battle with cancer.

Funeral services were held Saturday, May 13, at 11 a.m., at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in New Albin, with the Rev. Henry Charipar and the Rev. Herbert Tegeler officiating.

Music was provided by Collette Kasten and Colleen Becker. Some of the selections included "On Eagle's Wings," " How Great Thou Art," "Prayer of St. Francis" and "When Irish Eyes Are Smiling."

The offertory gifts were presented by Jeff and Mary Burke and family.

The casket bearers were six of her sons: Joe, John, Jerry, James, Jay and Justin Burke.

Burial was at St. Joseph's Cemetery, rural New Albin. The Thornburg-Hanson Funeral Home handled arrangements.

Betty (Mauss) Burke was born in rural Allamakee county Dec. 4, 1926, the daughter of Joe and Julia (Blake) Mauss. She attended country schools and graduated from St. Patrick's in Waukon in 1945.

She taught for several years in the rural schools of Clear Creek and French Creek.

She married Raymond Burke Oct. 21, 1952, and they resided on their rural New Albin farm for most of their married lives. Betty was a women who cared for her family as the most important vocation in life.

She was actively involved in church and taught CCD classes for several years. Betty enjoyed having company, cooking, baking, gardening, playing solitaire and her card club, listening to Milwaukee Braves baseball games on the radio for enjoyment.

Survivors include her husband, Raymond; eight children, Joseph Burke of Waukon, Janice and Rick Monson of Highlandville, John Burke of Waukon, Jerry and Dianne Burke of New Albin, James Burke and special friend Andrea of Hortonville, Wis., Jeff and Mary Burke of DECORAH, Jay Burke of Austin, Minn., and Justin and Sheila Burke of Cherokee; 18 grandchildren and three step-grandchildren.

Also surviving are six sisters, Sister Mary Bernard Mauss of Dayton, Dorothy Welper of Waukon, Joan and Harold Welper of Rozet, Wyo., Shirley and Harold Colsch of Waukon, Bernadette Becker of Lansing, and Maureen and Orville Strothman of Anoka, Minn.; two brothers, John and Mary Lou Mauss of Dubuque, and Jim and Carol Mauss of Hokah, Minn.; and many nieces and nephews.

Betty Burke was preceded in death by her parents; one sister, Kathleen Becker; and one grandson, Jeremiah Joe.

Transcribed by an IA GenWeb Volunteer from obituaries found in the Howard-Winneshiek Genealogy Society Library, Cresco, Iowa.