James Robert Burke, the son of Silas Mercer and Iva May (Deatz) Burke was born November 12, 1923 in Rock Port, Missouri. He attended the Rock Port Schools graduating with the class of 1943.

On May 15, 1943, Jim was united in marriage to Gloria May Renshaw, at the Lutheran Church, Rock Port, by Rev. McConnell. They lived in Rock Port and farmed with his parents.

In 1949 they moved to the Burke family home place, where they began farming for themselves and lived for over 50 years. Jim also custom trucked and shelled corn, and ran the Standard Oil tank wagon for one and a half years. From 1957 to 1959, Jim was employed by Rolf Fertilizer. In 1967, he began driving the tank wagon for Rock Port Oil Co., and continued to do so until 1994. Following 1994, he began his own service business; working on furnaces, stoves, propane appliances, washers and dryers, refrigeration units, and air conditioners. Jim was a hard worker and always stayed busy, only retiring after his health required him too. Gloria passed away December 30, 2004.

Jim was a member and former Deacon of the Rock Port Baptist Church and a member of the Greenhill Cemetery Board, where he had served as Secretary and Treasurer.

Jim was an exceptional dad and grandpa, who loved “doing” for his family and community. He did not enjoy fishing but would take the grandkids to watch and sometimes take a nap. He always found little things for them to do, so they could feel like they were helping, while he was working. He never said no to his customers, even when they called on Christmas morning for help with a furnace. He would say, “There is just no one to do this kind of work, and they have little kids.” He also enjoyed older cars, and had hoped that one day he would own a Model-T. Jim passed away Monday, August 6, 2007 at Pleasant View Nursing Home, Rock Port, at the age of 83 years.

Besides his parents and his wife, Gloria, Jim was preceded in death by one grandson, Chad Casey, and two brothers, Willis and Kenneth Burke. Survivors include one daughter, Jennifer Casey and her husband Pat, Parachute, Colorado, one son, Dan Burke and his wife D.J., Rock Port; seven grandchildren, Christy Masonbrink and her husband Roger, Jason Burke, Matthew Burke, Travis Casey and his wife Diana, Kavin Burke, Ryleah Burke and Kaci Burke; eight great-grandchildren, Jordan, Jase and Jacob Masonbrink, Ryan and Madison Burke, and Alex, Kolton and Aubrey Casey; numerous nieces and nephews and his dog Willow.

Funeral Services: Thursday, August 9, 2007, 10:00 a.m., Rock Port Baptist Church, Rock Port.
Burial: Greenhill Cemetery, Rock Port
The family will receive friends, Wednesday, August 8, 2007, 7:00 – 8:00 p.m., Minter Funeral Home, Rock Port.
Memorials: Rock Port Nutrition Center, Rock Port.
Services directed by Minter Funeral Chapel, Rock Port.