Burke, Thomas James

Other Events:

• 1930 Census: 1930, Appleton, Outagamie, Wisconsin, USA
• Military Service: Between 4 Dec 1941 and 18 Oct 1945; WWII - US Air Corps
• Obituary: 29 Mar 2011; Appleton Post Crescent

Notes:

1930 Census:
John Burke50
Amma Burke43
Marguerette Burke18
Joseph Burke16
Mary Burke12
Thomas Burke10

Military Service:
Tom enlisted in the Army Air Corps on December 4, 1941. He served in the South Pacific from April of 1943 to November of 1944, with the 5th Tactical Communications Squadron of the Fifth Air Force. He later served on detached service with the 24th, 29th and 42nd Divisions and the Australian 9th Division. He was awarded the Soldiers Medal and Bronze Star and was discharged on October 18, 1945.

Obituary:
Thomas James Burke, 91, Appleton, passed away at Appleton Retirement Community on Saturday, March 26, 2011. Tom was born on October 8, 1919, in Appleton, to the late John and Emma (Will) Burke. He married Eleanore Van Dyke on May 1, 1950, in Appleton.
Tom enlisted in the Army Air Corps on December 4, 1941. He served in the South Pacific from April of 1943 to November of 1944, with the 5th Tactical Communications Squadron of the Fifth Air Force. He later served on detached service with the 24th, 29th and 42nd Divisions and the Australian 9th Division. He was awarded the Soldiers Medal and Bronze Star and was discharged on October 18, 1945.
Tom was employed as an analyst at the Wisconsin Electric Company for over 31 years, retiring in January of 1983. He enjoyed gardening and home repair. Tom was a member of the St. Therese Holy Name Society and was a Communion Minister for many years. He was a member of the Harvey Pierre Post #2778 of the VFW, Johnston-Blessman Post #38 of the American Legion and the DAV.
Survivors include his wife of 60 years, Eleanore; his daughters, Margaret "Greta" (Victor) Wenzel, Appleton; and Kristine (Kenneth) Havel, Greenville; his son, David (Diana Coffey) Burke, Thorp, Wis.; and his grandson, Anthony Wenzel (fiancee, Erin Klug).
Tom was preceded in death by his infant daughter, Anne Marie; his two brothers, Jack and Joseph; and his sisters, Margaurite MacKenzie and Mary Jane Burke.
The Funeral Liturgy will be at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, March 30, 2011, at ST. THERESE CATHOLIC CHURCH, Wisconsin Avenue at Morrison Street, Appleton, with Fr. William Hoffmann officiating. Interment will be in St. Mary Cemetery, Appleton. Friends may call directly at the church on Wednesday from 10 a.m. until the time of services.
The family would like to extend a sincere thank you to the staff at Appleton Retirement Community and the staff at Southern Care Hospice for their loving care.
In lieu of flowers, a memorial has been established in his name.
Wichmann Funeral Home
537 N. Superior Street
Appleton 920-739-1231
Online Condolences:

Thomas married VanDyke, Eleanor Catherine Barbara 1 May 1950, Appleton, Outagamie, Wisconsin, USA. Eleanor (daughter of VanDyke, Joseph Raymond and Liesch, Laura) was born 13 Sep 1924, Little Chute, Outagamie, Wisconsin, USA; died 23 Feb 2018, Appleton, Outagamie, Wisconsin, USA; was buried , St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery, Appleton, Wisconsin, USA. [Group Sheet]

David married Coffey, Diana Dee [Group Sheet]

Margaret married Wenzel, Victor Lynn [Group Sheet]

Kristine married Havel, Kenneth David (son of Havel, Pius and Fumal, Helen) [Group Sheet]