LaVerne
F. Burke, 93, died Sunday, October 18, 2009, at Hamilton Manor in Aurora,
Nebraska. Funeral services will be held Thursday, October 22, 2009 at 2:00 P.M.
at Wagner Funeral Home in Central City. Sister Mary Arie will officiate.
Visitation will be Wednesday, October 21, from 5-7 at the funeral home.
Cremation will take place after the services. Burial of ashes will be in the
Mount Hope Cemetery in San Diego, California at a later date.
LaVerne was born on September 22, 1916, in Cicero, Illinois to Harry and Sylvia (Hirdler) Peterson. She grew up in the Chicago, IL area and received her education there. She graduated from J. Sterling Morton High School in 1932.
She was united in marriage to Harold “Red” Burke on May 22, 1937 in Cicero, IL. The couple moved to San Diego, CA in 1940. She was employed by the U.S. Civil Service at North Island Naval Air Base and retired in 1976. Harold died in 1955.
LaVerne was confirmed in the Lutheran faith in 1930. She and her husband, Harold, were founding members of First Lutheran Church in National City, CA. She became a member of Grace Lutheran Church in Central City, NE in 1998.
LaVerne was initiated into Job’s Daughters Bethel #22 in Cicero, IL in 1929. She became Honored Queen of that Bethel in 1933. LaVerne remained active in Job’s Daughters throughout most of her adult life. She was Deputy Grand Guardian for the state of California, serving for 35 years. She also served as a state officer.
Following her retirement in 1976 she was a volunteer worker at Kaiser Hospital in San Diego for 20 years.
Among the highlights of LaVerne’s life was her appearance on “The Wheel of Fortune” television show in 1984. She also attended a World Series Game in 1999 to watch the San Diego Padres. She also enjoyed playing Bunco with her friends in Central City.
Survivors include her son and daughter-in-law, Terry and Beverly Burke of Marquette, NE, two daughters and sons-in-law, Ellen and Corwin Roscoe of Central City, NE; and Corinne and Tom Newman of Marquette, NE, seven grandchildren, twelve great-grandchildren, and three great-great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Harold Burke, one brother, Harry Peterson, one sister, Vera Steiskal, and an infant grandson, Gregory Newman.
Memorials are suggested to Job’s Daughters or the Kidney Foundation and condolences may be sent to the family at www.wagnerfuneral.com.
Music:
Organist-Jean Blase
Congregational Hymns: “Amazing Grace” and “I Was There to Hear Your Borning Cry”
Special Selection- “Wind Beneath My Wings”
Pallbearers: Grandchildren
Tim Newman, Chris Steine, Jeff Newman, Kelly Orr, Matt Newman, Corey Roscoe, and John Burke.
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