Patrick Burke
It is with deeply saddened hearts we announce the passing of Patrick (Pat) Joseph Burke Saturday, October 3. Funeral Mass was held at Blessed Sacrament Church in Waterloo Monday, October 12.
Memorials may be made to the family and/or Hope Lodge at 750 Hawkins Drive, Iowa City, IA 52246-2505, or cancer.org/HopeLodgeIowaCitydonate.
Pat joined humanity August 13, 1951, one of seven children born to James and Rita (Hancock) Burke. He graduated from Waukon High School in 1969. He went on to earn an AA degree from NIACC in Mason City in 1974 and a Bachelor of Science degree from UNI in 1976.
Pat was a proud Veteran, joining the Army in August 1969 in Fort Polk, LA. He was discharged from Negarsulm, Germany as a Sergeant March 17, 1972.
For 31 years, Pat was employed as a Mail Handler for the United States Postal Service, retiring April 1, 2008. He was the Administrative Vice President of Local 333 Mail Handlers for most of his time at the Post Office.
Pat met his soul mate, Margaret (Maggie) Dolan Austin, in 1982. They tied the knot February 29, 2008, at the Little Brown Church in Nashua. Pat was a master planner who organized multiple trips for the couple. They traveled to Ireland, Germany, Washington DC and many other U.S. locations.
Most afternoons you could find Pat at Smitty’s bar, sitting on his reserved bar stool, shooting the breeze with his good friends. He loved fishing for the big ones, and rooting for the Green Bay Packers and Chicago White Sox. He was also an avid Union supporter and a strong political advocate.
Left to remember Pat is his beloved wife Maggie; his brother John (Alice) Burke of Waukon; his sister Mary Kay Delphey of Harpers Ferry; his sister Betty (Dean) Staggemeyer of Eitzen, MN; and his sister Peggy (Tom) Teff of Dorchester.
Additional survivors include his stepdaughter Sabrina (Ty) Wohlford of Granger; his stepson Bil (Brandi) Austin of Knoxville; his grandchildren Olivia, Bradyn, Alex, Jake, Cheyenne, Ashley, Casie, Sarah, Shawn, Andy, and Jerit; 20 great-grandchildren; many nieces and nephews and great-nieces and great-nephews; his brothers-in-law Denis (Karen) Dolan, Brian (Ann) Dolan, Rory (Rochelle) Dolan, Jan Pratt-Jordan (Dee Jay), and Kelly (Jim) Pechota.
