Raymond Joseph Burke

Raymond J. Burke, 89, of Waukon, IA, died Wednesday, November 13, 2019, at Northgate Care Center in Waukon. Funeral services will be held Monday, November 18th, at 11:00 AM at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Waukon, IA, with Fr. Mark Osterhaus officiating. Burial with military honors will be at Mt. Olivet Cemetery, Waukon. Friends may call from 3:00 to 6:00 PM Sunday at Martin Funeral Home in Waukon where there will be a 2:30 PM Scripture Service, and again for 1 hour before the service at the church on Monday. In lieu of flowers memorials may be directed to St. Patrick School, Veterans Memorial Hospital, or a charity of choice.

Raymond Joseph Burke was born on April 23, 1930, at the Hall Maternity Hospital in Waukon, IA, 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, IA, and graduated from St. Patrick High School in Waukon in 1948. He worked for the Dairy Herd Improvement Association for 2 years after graduation and then as a technician for Eastern Iowa Breeders. In 1951 he enlisted in the US Navy where he served through 1954 as a radio technician. Much of his duty was aboard the USS Wyandot sailing the US 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, IA. On 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., on 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; Cindy (Steve) Iverson of Waukon and their children Kyle (Erin) Iverson and children Ada and Emmett of Dorchester, IA, and T.J. (Tatum) Iverson of Waukon and children Evan, Levi, and Ellis; Rick (Katie) Burke of Forest City, IA, and their children Connor Burke of Rochester, MN, Chris (fiancé Laura) Hrubes of Jupiter, FL, and Eric (Kayla) Hrubes of Cedar Rapids, IA, and daughter Emry; Reggie (Amy) Burke of Wapello, IA, and their children Shea (Kirsten) Burke and daughter Mila Sue of Belmond, IA, Dru Burke of West Des Moines, IA, Hogan (Torrie) Burke of Cedar Rapids, and Sadie Burke of Iowa City, IA. Also surviving are 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, and his sisters Mildred (Kenny) Hall and twin sister Ramona (Jim) Wardlow.

Casketbearers are Ray's grandchildren.