Raymond Burke
Raymond J. Burke, 89, of Waukon died Wednesday, November 13, 2019 at Northgate Care Center in Waukon. Funeral services were held Monday, November 18 at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Waukon with Fr. Mark Osterhaus officiating. Burial with military honors was at Mt. Olivet Cemetery, Waukon. Memorials may be directed to St. Patrick School, Veterans Memorial Hospital, or a charity of choice.
Raymond Joseph Burke was born April 23, 1930 at the Hall Maternity Hospital in Waukon to Thomas and Lucille (Kingsley) Burke. He was baptized and confirmed at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Hanover. Ray attended Bear Creek Rural School in the New Galena area of rural Dorchester and graduated from St. Patrick High School in Waukon in 1948.
He worked for the Dairy Herd Improvement Association for two years after graduation and then as a technician for Eastern Iowa Breeders. In 1951 he enlisted in the U.S. Navy where he served through 1954 as a radio technician. Much of his duty was aboard the USS Wyandot sailing the U.S. Atlantic coast as well as the Caribbean and Mediterranean Seas. He had the distinction of being an Arctic Blue Nose.
Following his discharge he returned home and resumed working for Eastern Iowa Breeders out of Postville. August 23, 1955, Ray married Mary Ann Berns at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, West Ridge and they resided in Postville. In 1961, Ray and Mary Ann purchased the Purple Cow Supper Club in Waukon, which they operated until 1966. Following that, Ray resumed working as a genetic engineer and technician for ABS. Ray and Mary Ann purchased their farm in Ludlow Township in 1971. Ray continued living on the farm until February of 2019 when he became a resident at Northgate Care Center in Waukon.
Ray’s faith was very important to him and he was an active member of St. Patrick Catholic Church in Waukon, where he also served as an usher. He was a member of the American Legion and the Allamakee County Historical Society. Ray enjoyed working with barn boards making benches, birdhouses and other repurposed items which he regularly donated to help raise money at local benefits.
He loved to play euchre, trips to Branson, MO, fishing trips, and had an interest in Indian artifacts as well as antique and classic cars. He loved to spend time with his family and particularly enjoyed hearing stories and viewing pictures of some of their great deer hunts. A recent highlight for Ray was taking a Freedom Flight to Washington, D.C. September 20, 2014, accompanied by his son, Randy.
Survivors include his wife of 64 years, Mary Ann; his children: Randy (Debbie) Burke of Waukon and their daughter, Kelly Burke of Chicago, IL; Cindy (Steve) Iverson of Waukon and their children, Kyle (Erin) Iverson and children Ada and Emmett of Dorchester, and T.J. (Tatum) Iverson of Waukon and children Evan, Levi and Ellis; Rick (Katie) Burke of Forest City and their children, Connor Burke of Rochester, MN, Chris (fiancée Laura) Hrubes of Jupiter, FL and Eric (Kayla) Hrubes of Cedar Rapids and their daughter, Emry; and Reggie (Amy) Burke of Wapello and their children, Shea (Kirsten) Burke and daughter Mila Sue of Belmond, Dru Burke of West Des Moines, Hogan (Torrie) Burke of Cedar Rapids and Sadie Burke of Iowa City. Also surviving are his sisters-in-law, Mary Kay Burke of Madison, WI and Joyce Burke of Menomonie Falls, WI; as well as many beloved nieces and nephews.
He is preceded in death by his parents; his brothers, Gerald, Bill and Tom Burke; his sister, Mildred (Kenny) Hall; and his twin sister, Ramona (Jim) Wardlow.
Casketbearers were Ray’s grandchildren. Online condolences may be left at www.martinfunerals.com.
