Joseph John Burke

Brunswick - Joseph J. Burke, 87, left this life for his eternal reward, surrounded by his loving family on Sunday, November 9, 2014. Joe was the son of the late Patrick and Rose Raleigh Burke of Troy and husband for 63 years of Mary Jane Staehle Burke. He was born on January 19, 1927 at the family home in Lansingburgh. He was a graduate of St. Augustine's School and Catholic Central High School, Class of 1945. He also attended Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and Siena College.

He was a veteran of WWII, having served in the United States Coast Guard aboard the troop transport General J. C. Breckinridge. Joe observed VJ Day in the Pacific Ocean en route to the planned invasion of Japan. He was awarded the following medals: American Campaign, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign, European African-Middle Eastern Campaign and the WWII Victory Medal.

He was employed for 39 years in The Engineering Department of Behr Manning/Norton Company in Watervliet (now St. Gobain Corporation) as a materials handling engineer and after early retirement in 1985, worked for six years as a salesman for Royce W. Day Company, selling lift trucks and industrial equipment.

Joe was an usher for over 35 years at Sacred Heart Church in Troy, a former member of the Holy Name Society and Bingo Committee and the Parish Council. He was in his younger years a volunteer fireman with the Eagle Mills Volunteer Fire Company, a member and officer of the Capital District Material Handling Society, the Foreman’s Association of Norton Company,  the Norton Retirees Club and softball league, the Veterans of Lansingburgh, the Speigle Elders and the Petersburgh Sunshine Seniors. For 10 years, he also organized and ran Senior bus trips under the name "Joe's Group." Joe was a proud volunteer tour guide on the USS Slater.

He is survived by two daughters, Marianne of Glenville and Beth McElroy (Samuel) also of Glenville, 3 step grandchildren, Nicole, Samuel and Connor McElroy; one brother, John F. of Pittsford, N. Y. and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents, two brothers, James and William, two sisters, Anne Burke O'Neill and Mary Rose Burke Havern.

Relatives and friends may call at the Bryce Funeral Home, Inc.  276 Pawling Avenue Troy on Wednesday, November 12, 2014 from 4-7 PM. 

Funeral service will be held Thursday at 10 AM at the  funeral home and at 10:30 AM at Sacred Heart Church Troy where a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated.

Interment will be Thursday at 12:30PM in Gerald BH Solomon Saratoga National Cemetery Schuylerville with full military honors.

In lieu of flowers contributions may be made in memory of Joseph John Burke to the Sacred Heart Church Memorial Fund 310 Spring Avenue Troy, NY 12180 or the charity of ones choice. 

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