Francis J. Burke, 82 of 89 N. 39th Road, Mendota died June 7, 2011 at Mendota Community Hospital.
Funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, June 9 at Sts. Peter and Paul Church, Peterstown with Rev. Fredi Gomez Torres officiating. Burial will be at the church cemetery. Visitation will be from 4-8 p.m. on Wednesday, June 8 at the Schwarz Funeral Home, Mendota with a prayer service at 4 p.m.
Pallbearers will be his grandsons, Eric Donoho, Jeff Twardowski, Tony Burke, Jacob Spiegel, Steve Brodko, Josh Nowlin, Nick Needs, Adam Brodko, Joe Wallery, Brandon Donoho and Ryan Donoho.
Mr. Burke was born May 1, 1929 in Amboy to Daniel and Elizabeth (Antoine) Burke. He married Darlene Happ on Feb. 14, 1953 at Sts. Peter and Paul Church, Peterstown.
Survivors include his wife of Mendota; two sons, Thomas (Cathy) Burke and Roger (Martha) Burke, both of Mendota; seven daughters, Pamela (Greg) Donoho of Fulton, Eileen (William) Twardowski of Peru, Diane Spiegel of LaMoille, Nancy (Frank) Brodko of Mendota, Janice (Steve) Nowlin of Mendota, Beverly (James) Wallery of The Woodlands, Texas, and Barbara (George) Needs of Peru; 23 grandchildren; five great grandchildren; two brothers, Daniel (Vivian) Burke and Edward (Lu) Burke, both of Dixon; and three sisters, Mary Ellen Murray of Freeport, Jean Johnson of Louisville, Ky. and Betty (Bill) Widolff of Rock Falls.
He was preceded in death by his parents; one brother, Joe Burke; and one sister, Margaret Friel.
Mr. Burke graduated from Amboy High school in 1947. He was a self-employed farmer and was a group leader at Motor Wheel for 28 years before retiring in 1994. He was a member of Sts. Peter and Paul Church and the Mendota Moose Lodge.
