James A. "Jim" Burke Sr

James A. "Jim" Burke Sr of Lake Wales passed away Saturday, June 27, 2009 at the Lake Wales Medical Center.

He was born February 10, 1930 in Griswold, CT to the late Frank & Margaret Marie (McDonald) Burke; he was here in 1956 from Connecticut. He was a retired owner, operator and mechanic of Burke's Amoco and Burke's Service Station in Babson Park. He was also a member of the First Assembly of God Church and a veteran of Korea, serving in the U.S. Army. He was a life member and former commander of the V.F.W., a former scout master, and a member of the Lake Wales Moose Lodge and the American Legion Post 8 in Winter Haven. He enjoyed working on cars, going to the flea market and his McDonald's breakfast group.

Jim was preceded in death by his first wife, Carnetha Burke in 1989; second wife, Darlene Burke in 2005; and his son, Mike Burke in 1992. Survivors include his daughter, Cindy Burke Perez (Edward) of Lake Wales; sons, Jimmy Burke Jr (Annette) of Lake Wales and Mitchell Dunaway of Lake Wales; sisters, Anna Whitlock of Camden, DE, Ruthie Panus of Jewett City, CT, Martha Brenek of Vermont and Mary Bohara of Connecticut; brothers, Ed Burke of New London, CT and Harvey Burke of Delta Junction, AK; 5 grandchildren, Kevin Grimes, Andy Burke, Danille Patton, John Russell and Joe Russell; and 2 great-grandchild, Victoria Grimes and James Burke IV.

Visitation will be held from 6:00 until 8:00 PM, Tuesday, June 30, 2009 at the Marion Nelson Funeral Home in Lake Wales. Funeral service will be held 2:00 PM, Wednesday, July 1, 2009 at the First Assembly of God in Lake Wales. Interment will follow at the Lake Wales Cemetery. For those who wish, donations may be made to the Lake Wales Care Center or the First Assembly of God.

To view the webcast of his service, please click the link below:
http://webcasts.lifetributes.com/77015

To view his memorial website, please click the link below:
http://www.lifetributes.com/JamesAJimBurkeSr