Source: MARSHFIELD NEWS HERALD (Marshfield, Wis.) 03/21/2002

Burke, John (26 SEP 1926 - 20 MAR 2002)

SPENCER- John "Jack" Burke, 75, of Spencer died Tuesday, March 20, 2002 at St. Joseph's Hospital in Marshfield.

Funeral Services will be Friday, March 22, 2002 at 10:00 a.m. at Christ the King Catholic Church In Spencer. Father Charles Stoetzel will officiate. Burial will be in West Spencer Cemetery in the town of Sherman Clark County. Casket bearers will be Terry and John McGivern, Bob, Rick, and Mike Burke, and John Giese.

Visitation will be at Community Funeral Home Spencer on Thursday March 21, 2002, from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. with a Vigil service at 4:00 p.m. Friend may also visit Friday at the funeral home from 9:00 to 9:45 a.m.

Jack was born on Sept 26,1926, in Boyd to John and Anna (nee Velcheck) Burke. He attended Boyd schools and served in the Navy during WWII. He then attended Gales Institute in Minneapolis, studying to be a telegraph operator. Jack married Frances "Fran" Sawczuk on November 4,1950, at St. Hedwig's Catholic Church in Thorp. Jack worked for the Soo Line Railroad from June 29,1949, until June 1986. While working for the railroad he was a telegraph operator at Owen from 1953 until Sept. 25,1965, at Loyal from September 1965 until Sept, 1967, at Spencer from 1967, until Nov of 1973, when the depot closed and finished his years with the railroad as a cashier at Marshfield Depot.

He also worked for Badger Shooter Supply of Owen, was a member of the Owen Volunteer Fire Dept. for 15 years serving for several years as the department's secretary-treasurer and on the Owen-Withee ambulance service.

Jack was a member of Christ The King Church. He was past president of the Holy Name Society and a member of the Knights of Columbus.

He was a long time member of the Spencer Lions Club and served as president three times. He was very active in coordinating the Spencer Lions Scotch Doubles Bowling Tournaments. Jack was very involved with the Wisconsin Eye Bank program. He was involved in the Spencer Kids Group. In 1998 Jack was Spencer's Citizen of the Year.

Jack enjoyed all types of sports. He was on the Boys School Basketball team that won first place in the Western Cloverbelt division in 1944. He loved watching the Packers, and local high school sporting events. Hunting, fishing, camping and bowling rounded out his sporting events.

Jack is survived by his wife, Fran of Spencer 5 daughters Carol (Dale) Krause, Doris Burke, and Teresa Burke all of Wausau, Betty (Dale) Michalek of Minneapolis and Ann (Thomas) Rogers of Howards Grove, 2 sons, Jim Burke of Marshfield and John (Beth) Burke of Wausau, 8 grandchildren, Kathy and Brian Krause, Lara and Eileen Burke, Jessica, Stacey and Christopher Michalek and step-grandson Eric Michalek and one sister Patricia (Gerald) Giese of Eau Claire.

Preceded in death by parents one son, Tom 2 sisters, Ethel Calkins, and Wilhelmina McGivern and 1 brother, George Burke.

Memorials can be given to the Lions Camp in Rosholt, the Eye Bank or the local Special Olympics.