----Source: Thorp Courier (Thorp, Clark County, Wis.) 10/17/1918

Burke, George (16 OCT 1853 - 10 OCT 1918)

After an illness extending over a period of many months, George Burke died at Mayo Hospital at Rochester, Minn., on Thursday morning, Oct. 10, 1918. About a year ago he spent several weeks at a hospital at Eau Claire and upon his return home seemed to have greatly improved his condition but close confinement to office work soon resulted in a general collapse. He then went to the hospital at Chippewa Falls, where he remained under treatment for several months, returning home in August. His condition again became worse and four weeks ago he went to the Mayo hospital where he continually lost strength until the end came. The body arrived here on Friday night, and owing to the illness of his daughter's at his own home with influenza, was taken to the home of sister, Mrs. John Roth.

Mr. Burke was born on a farm near Kingston, Green Lake Co., Wis., on Oct. 16, 1853. Here he grew to manhood, and in 1882 he came to Thorp, Clark County, Wis. with his parents. For a number of years he conducted the Douglas House, and in the meantime was elected town clerk of the town of Withee and also justice of the peace. He served as clerk and justice for a number of years and also as clerk of the school board for twenty years. The office of justice of the peace he held for more than thirty years, and in the hundreds of intricate cases which came before him as judge, his decisions in affecting a settlement, justice was always his foremost thoughts and endeavors. In 1913 he was appointed postmaster, which position he resigned in 1915 to become cashier of the Farmers Exchange Bank, which latter position he held at the time of his death.

His whole life was an open book. His convictions, whether right or wrong, were honest and sincere, resulting from much careful study and analysis on his part, and with which he calmly met the fate of all flesh. To man, woman or child, saint or sinner, he always extended a cordial greeting that lent a ray of light to brighten their pathway in the journey of life.

Conscience guided him in every act. No man in this community had more friends than George Burke had, and on all occasions he was most generous in the welfare of all with whom he came in contact.

Mr. burke was married Nov. 21, 1888, to Miss Altie Craig, who died June 9, 1916. Six children, John, Mrs. Roy Piper, Lucile, Ruth, Dorothy and Bernice, all of mature age, survive. He also leaves five sisters: Mrs. T. F. Murphy, Mrs. John Roth, Mrs. W. E. Poppe, Mrs. E. L. Snyder and Mrs. Anson Heagle.

The funeral services were held on Tuesday from St. Bernard's Catholic Church, Father Neises officiating, interment following in the Catholic Cemetery.

The pallbearers were M. Greisch, John Verkuilen, Wm. Krause, Herman Friess, John Boie and John Daniels.