Obituary of James Patrick Burke

James Patrick Burke passed away peacefully at the age of fifty-eight on March 27, 2009 after braving a courageous battle with Multiple Sclerosis. The sixth child in a family of ten children, Jim was born on August 6, 1950 in Laramie, Wyoming to Joseph and Mary Burke. He attended St. Anthony's Elementary in Casper, WY and Campion Jesuit Preparatory School in Prairie de Chien, WI. He went to Creighton University and transferred to the University of Wyoming where he graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in American Studies in 1974. He also attended a specialized program in bank marketing at the University of Virginia in Monticello, VA. Jim was a member of the Knights of Columbus - Fourth Degree. He was also a long-time active member of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Spirit Lake. Jim met Patricia Moore on a hayride while he was strumming his guitar. They married on June 2, 1973 at the St. Joseph Catholic Church in Milford, IA. They began their life together in Casper where Jim worked as a loan officer and marketing manager at Guarantee Federal Savings and Loan. He was twenty-four years old when he was diagnosed with MS. They relocated to Spirit Lake in 1988. Despite progressive physical challenges over the years, Jim never complained: he maintained a keen Irish wit, a bright sense of humor, and positive attitude. Even in the most advanced stages of MS, Jim taught those closest to him the importance of laughter and the meaning of faith. He demonstrated by example how to live a principled and spiritual life Jim loved music, jokes, baseball, the great outdoors, but most of all, he cherished his three children, Jim, Molly, and Katy. Jim's love and trusted counsel will be cherished by his wife, Patricia, of Spirit Lake; children, James, (Jim) of Iowa City, IA, Mary Helen (Molly) of Portland, OR, and Kathleen Kelly (Katy) of Milwaukee, WI. His brothers and sisters; Maureen and Marvin Emrich, Michael and Carolyn Burke, all of Casper, WY, Eileen Burke-Sullivan and Michael Sullivan of Omaha, NE, Rev. Kevin F. Burke, S.J. of Berkeley, CA, Drs. Thomas and Mary Francis Burke of Casper, WY, Brian and Jan Burke of Greenwood Village, CO, Anne and Chris Bell of Denver, CO, David and Molly Scott of Spencer, and Mike and Kate Ebinger of Cedar Rapids; many nieces and nephews, cousins, and a host of dear friends. He was preceded in death by his parents Joseph and Mary Burke and his in-laws, Fred and Helen Moore. He is also welcomed in heaven by his two brothers, Larry and Dan Burke. Jim called himself "the ultimate middleman." As a middle child in a large family, he was born in the middle of the month and the middle of the century. He will be forever in the middle of our hearts.