Evelyn Burke

Evelyn M. Burke, 96, of Waukon, IA, died Saturday, May 22, 2021, at Thornton Manor in Lansing, IA. Memorial services will be held Friday, May 28, at 11:00 AM  at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Waukon with Fr. John Moser and Rev. Msgr. Ed Lechtenberg officiating. Burial will be at St. Mary's Hanover Cemetery, rural Waukon. Friends may greet the family one hour before the service on Friday at church. Martin-Grau Funeral Home in Waukon is handling arrangements. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be directed to Thornton Manor in Lansing, St. Patrick Catholic Church in Waukon, or Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon.

Evelyn Mary Burke was born February 25, 1925, on the home farm in West Ridge, rural Waukon, IA, the daughter of Frank and Marie (Murphy) Ryan. In 1942, Evelyn graduated from Immaculate Conception High School in Lansing, IA, and then worked a few different jobs around Lansing. In 1945, she moved to Washington, D.C. to do fingerprint work for the FBI. Three years later, she then moved to Chicago, where she did administrative work in the Marshall Field's corporate office; Evelyn retired after 36 years. On August 28, 1976, Evelyn married John Burke at St. Bruno's Church in Whittier, CA. In 1990, they moved back to Waukon and she was a member of St. Patrick Catholic Church. Evelyn enjoyed reading and her primary goal in life was to just enjoy it with the people around her; she loved people and everyone loved her.

Evelyn is survived by her sister Dorothy Ryan of Lansing and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband John on October 29, 1993; brother Meril "Fox Man" Ryan; sister Donna Erickson; two brothers-in-law: James (Rita) Burke and Michael (Hazel) Burke; and seven sisters-in-law: Mary (John) McCormick, Sister Mary Jude, RSM, Rita (Leo) Liddiard, Catherine (Earl) Griffin, Margaret (Henry) Grohall, Gertrude (Hank) Schulte, and Monica (Ray) Sweeney.

Honorary urn bearers are Rod (Sandy) and Ray (Diane) Ronan, Rita (Tom) Pfiffner, James (Sara) Ronan, Rhonda (Kent) Stock, Rick (Bridget) Ronan, and their extended families. Urn bearers are Kevin Mark, Kristina Burroughs, and David Mark.