Burke, William “Jay” Thomas Jr. -- 1959 - 2011
BURKE, MARTIN, MEYER, FRANA, RAUSCH, SCHULTZ, BERTNESS, YANG
Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 5/27/2012 at 14:10:14
Decorah Public Opinion Feb. 1, 2011
Jay Burke, age 51, of Fort Atkinson, died Wednesday, Jan. 26, 2011, at the Winneshiek Medical Center in Decorah, from complications of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)
William “Jay” Thomas Burke, Jr., was born May 9, 1959, in New Hampton, the son of William and Carole (Meyer) Burke. He attended St. Mary’s Catholic School in Waucoma and graduated from Turkey Valley High School in 1977. He attended Area One and received a degree in the Farm Implement Program. He worked at Schmitt Implement in Fort Atkinson, for a couple of years, and then became an instructor in the John Deere Ag Tech Program at NICC in Calmar for the last 20 years. He married Theresa Martin Dec. 30, 1992, and made their home in Fort Atkinson. Jay enjoyed restoring two cylinder John Deere tractors, going to area tractor shows, and doing things with his family outdoors.
Jay is survived by his wife: Theresa Burke, Ft. Atkinson; three daughters: Sheena (Greg) Frana, Rochester, Minn., Amanda (Stephen Rausch) Burke, Des Moines, and Kayla Burke, Ft. Atkinson; one son: Zachary Burke, Ft. Atkinson; one granddaughter: Cloe; his parents Bill and Carole Burke, Waucoma; four sisters: Shari (Mark) Schultz of Storm Lake, Juli Ann (Kevin) Bertness of Batavia, Ill., Jane (Luis) Pinto of Warrenville, Ill., and Rebecca (Shin) Yang, Madison, Al., along with many nieces and nephews.
Jay was preceded in death by his grandparents: Dan and Laura Meyer and Tom and Bessie Burke.
Mass of Christian Burial was Monday, Jan. 31, 2011, at 10:30 a.m. at St. John’s Catholic Church in Fort Atkinson, Schluter-Balik Funeral Home Chekal Chapel in Fort Atkinson assisted the family with the arrangements. The Rev. Marvin Salz officiated. Kristina Nienhaus was organist. Hymns included “Be Not Afraid,” “Peace is Flowing.” “Only A Shadow” and “How Great Thou Art.” Stephen Rausch was the lector. Offertory gift bearers were Alejandro Pinto, Katie Bertness and Shannon Schultz. Eucharistic ministers were Carole Burke, Marge Meyer and Tom and Connie Frana. Casket bearers were Greg Frana, Shin Yang, Kevin Bertness, Mark Schultz, Luis Pinto, Al Schmitt, Ed Brannan and Paul Martin. Honorary casket bearers were Duane Bouska, Neil Grube, Jim Coffin and friends. Interment was at St. John’s Catholic Cemetery, Fort Atkinson.
transcibed from a newspaper clipping submitted by Janice Sowers
St. John’s Catholic Cemetery
Winneshiek Obituaries maintained by Bruce Kuennen.
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