Vincent Sanders Burke 1920-2001

SANDERS, BURKE

Posted By: Connie Swearingen-Volunteer (email)
Date: 1/27/2013 at 17:44:17

Vincent Sanders Burke, 80, of Buena Park, Calif., formerly of Sioux City, died. February 2, 2001, of congestive heart failure.

Services were held there February 7, 2001. Burial was in Forest Lawn, Cypress, Calif., with military rites.

Mr.Burke was born May 17, 1920, in Luverne, Minn., the son of James M. and Marion F. (Sanders) Burke. He moved, as a young boy, with his family to Sioux City. He attended public school and graduated from East High School. He earned a bachelor of science, business administration and sociology degrees from Morningside College. He attended graduate studies at Universities of New York, Wisconsin, Missouri, North Western, and Iowa City. This culminated in a master's degree in communications from the University of South Dakota in 1972.

A licensed pilot at age 15, he got into barnstorming, stunt flying, wing walking, and became one of the early skydivers. Prior to becoming a pilot he worked on and around aircraft and early 1930s, was on his way to becoming an accomplished and recognized expert in the fine art of "re-skinning" airplanes. He later became vice president of the Iowa Wing of the prestigious OX-5 Club of America (Aviation Pioneers), and also held membership in the Antique Airplane and Expeiimental Aircraft Associations. His hobby was rebuilding and flying antique aircraft. He was a member and past president of the OX-5 Southern California Wing, and the originator of the "Historians Club," for younger members interested in OX,5 and its membership.

During World War II. he joined the Army Air Corps and served in the Alaskan, Caribbean, and domestic wings of the Air Transport Command (ATC), Ferry Division. He also spent over two years of service with the Office of Special Investigation. Following his discharge 1945, and he soon found himself in trucking, automotive repair, sales, insurance and various other endeavors.

He contributed to our community in working for the State office of Vocational Rehabilitation.

Vince held membership in the National Rehabilitation , the American Inter-Professional, and the Iowa Welfare Associations.

In the 1965, he became a senator, representing Siouxland and its surrounding area, in the Iowa State Senate.

He was instrumental in creating the early aviation museum at the Sioux City airport and the Mapleton airport.

He was a member of Saint Irenaeus Church, Cypress, Ca.

He is survived by his wife, Mary Burke; his children, Mike and Alice Burke, and Joanne Burke Stager; daughter-in-law, Carol; son-in-law, John; five grandchildren and one great-granddaughter, all who now reside in Southern California.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Richard F. Burke; an infant son, James Michael; and granddaughter, Lora.

Pallbearers were: Jim and Peter Burke, John Stager and Steve Farrington.