Surnames: Burke, Stoetzel, Siemenuk, Sawczuk, Krause, Michalek, Rogers, Koperski, Burzyinski, Wiebe, Strojny

----Source: Wausau Daily Herald (Wausau, Marathon County, Wis.) 17 Aug. 2004

Burke, Frances (27 Dec. 1926 - 14 Aug. 2004)

Frances "Fran" Jenny Burke, 77, of Spencer died Aug. 14, 2004, at Wells Nature View in Marshfield.

Mass of Christian burial will be held at 10:20 a.m. Tuesday at Christ the King Catholic Church in Spencer. The Rev. Charles Stoetzel will officiate. Burial will be in West Spencer Cemetery in the town of Sherman.

Friends May call at Community Funeral Home in Spencer from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday and from 8:30 a.m. to 10:15 a.m. Tuesday at the funeral home. There will be a parish rosary at 4 p.m. Monday.

She was born on Dec. 27, 1926, to Frank and Anna (Siemenuk) Sawczuk. She was a 1945 Thorp High School graduate. She married John "Jack" Burke on Nov. 4, 1950, at St. Helwig's Catholic Church in Thorp. She worked at Spencer Bowling Alley for two years and for Land O' Lakes for 20 years. She enjoyed traveling, sports (a Packers fan), bowling, cross-country skiing, sewing and reading. She was a former member of the Third Tuesday Homemakers Club. She was a member of Christ the King Catholic Church and a member of the ladies PCCW, where she served two terms as vice president and one term as president. Family meant everything to Frances, and she will be missed by her children and grandchildren.

She is survived by her five daughters, Carol (Dave) Krause, Doris Burke and Teresa Burke, all of Wausau, Betty (Dale) Michalek of Lino Lakes, Minn., and Ann (Thomas) Rogers of Howards Grove; two sons, Jim Burke of Marshfield, and John (Beth) Burke of Wausau; grandchildren Kathy and Brian Krause, Lara and Eileen Burke, and Jessica, Stacey and Christopher Michalek; stepgrandchild Eric Michalek; and one brother, John Sawczuk of Thorp.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Jack Burke on March 19, 2002; one son, Tommy; four sisters, Helen Koperski, Regina Burzyinski, Marie Wiebe and Rose Strojny; and three brothers, Stanley, Joe and Edward Sawczuk.

Fran's favorite quote was, "I asked God for everything so I could enjoy life; God gave me life so I could enjoy everything."