John W. "Jack" Burke, Jr.

John W. Burke, Jr.

Augusta, GA – Entered into rest Sunday, December 16, 2012, Mr. John William “Jack” Burke, Jr., 83, husband of Mrs. Loretta Kearns Burke.

John W. “Jack” Burke, Jr. was a native of Augusta. He is the son of the late Ellen Gertrude Fagan of Augusta, Georgia and John W. Burke, Sr. of Sharon, GA. Mr. Burke attended Sacred Heart School and graduated from Boys Catholic School in Augusta, Georgia. He received a football Scholarship to Troy State College in Alabama. He returned to Augusta to attend Junior College of Augusta where he graduated in 1950 with a General Degree. He then furthered his education at the University of Georgia where he received a Bachelor of Business Administration with a major in accounting in 1952. He subsequently received his Certified Public Accountant (CPA) certificate.

After school Jack enlisted in the U.S. Navy where he served in the North Atlantic for 18 months on the Destroyer, W.C. Lawe. After his military enlistment he went to work for the U.S. Treasury Department as an Internal Revenue Service agent in the field examination division. Jack was honored to be elected as Shop Steward and Area Vice President for the National Treasury Employees Union from 1968 until he retired in 1989. One of Jack’s most memorable duties was working on the Watergate Investigation Project for Political Contributions in Washington, DC in 1972.

Jack grew up as a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church. In 1959 he married Loretta and joined St. Mary on the Hill Catholic Church. Jack was a former member of the weekly offertory accounting group.

Mr. Burke was a member of the Patrick Walsh Council 677 of the Knights of Columbus. He has participated in 3rd and 4th Degree activities since 1954. He is one of the original members of the Irish Mafia Golf Group. Jack was also one of the charter members of the Irish American Heritage Society and his family was honored as Irish Family of the year in 1995. He served as Grand Marshal for the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in 2000.

Family members in addition to his wife include son: Sean Kearns Burke and wife Kristi of Augusta; daughter: the late Shannon Burke Agee; grandchildren: William Benjamin Agee, Jeffery Burke Agee, Sean McCauley Burke and Kathryn Ellen Burke; a number of nieces and nephews; and his puppy: Stewart Little Burke. Mr. Burke was preceded in death by his sister: Mary Burke Ford and brother: Joseph Thomas Burke.

A funeral mass will be held Wednesday, December 19, 2012 at 11:00 A.M. at St. Mary on the Hill Catholic Church with Rev. Gerald F. Ragan celebrant. Interment will follow at Westover Memorial Park. Pallbearers will be John Mulherin, Dennis Welch, Noel Schweers, Patrick Kelly, Patrick Hatch, Wesley Scott, Edward Dorr and Joseph Walker. Honorary pallbearers will be his nephews.

Memorial contributions may be made to Aquinas High School Capital Campaign c/o Aquinas High School 1920 Highland Ave., Augusta, GA 30904.

The family wishes to express their appreciation to his caregivers: Sally Crouch, Sherri Allison, Ashley Crews and Jay Hebert and also Jack’s special cookie friend Patricia Welch.

A vigil service will be held Tuesday evening at 6:00 P.M. at St. Mary on the Hill Catholic Church.

Thomas Poteet & Son Funeral Directors, 214 Davis Rd., Augusta, GA 30907 (706) 364-8484. Please sign the guestbook at www.thomaspoteet.com