Jean L. (Drake) Burke

Munising

Jean L. Burke, age 82, of Munising, died on Wednesday morning, June 15, 2016 at the Tendercare Health Center in Munising.  She was born on April 11, 1934 in Munising to the late Earl and Ruth (St. Peter) Drake.  Jean graduated from Sacred Heart School and then Wm. Gm Mather High School in 1952.  During school, she worked at Taylor’s Cleaners and Bea Corriveau’s restaurant.  Jean married Joseph Raymond Burke on June 1954 and together they raised their three children.  She had worked in the office at Kimberly Clark and then for the Munising Paper Products Credit Union.  Jean continued to work at the Credit Union until she retired in 1999.  She was active with Girl Scouts and Cub Scouts while her children were young.  Jean was a member of Sacred Heart Church, the National Society of Foresters, and St. Anthony Guild.  She was one of the founding members of the Munising Lioness Club and she and Joe were very active with Lions Club.  They worked together on the annual Lions Club carnival and other club activities.  She was also the longtime fund raising chair for the Alger County March of Dimes.  Jean enjoyed bowling in the Friday nights women’s league for many years.  She was also a past member of the Senior Citizens Club.  Jean enjoyed crocheting, reading, and watching game shows and good movies on television.  She and Joe were Detroit Lions fans, and they both enjoyed attending Mustang sporting events when their sons played.  Joe preceded Jean in death on December 25, 1992 after thirty-eight years of marriage.

She is survived by her daughter – Jeanne Jo Lake of Iron River, MI; son – Kevin (Wendy) Burke of Munising; three grandchildren – Jeremy Lake, Erica (Phil) Larson, and Erin (Ed) Zarn; one great grandson Jared; brother – Tony (Paulette) Drake of AuTrain; sisters – Leora “Toddie” Tweedale of Inverness, FL, Ruth Courter of Pelkie, Ella (Jerry) Burness of Durand, MI and Marie Broda of Munising.  Jean was also preceded in death by her son Billy on Februay 1, 2009 and siblings Earl Drake, Audrey Rextrew, and Delbert Drake.

Visitation will be held at the Bowerman Funeral Home on Monday evening from 5:00 until 8:00 p.m.  A Parish Vigil Service with a time of sharing of stories and memories will be at 7:00 p.m.  Father Chris Gardiner will celebrate Jean’s Mass of Christian Burial on Tuesday, June 21, 2016 at 11:00 a.m. at Sacred Heart Church.  Interment will follow at the Maple Grove Cemetery in Munising.