William Dorance Burke

William Dorance Burke, 90, of Coggon, Iowa, passed away on Friday, February 16, 2018, at The Villages in Marion.  He was born on December 20, 1927, in Coggon, the son of Joseph and Susan (Coleman) Burke.  Bill was raised and educated in the area and graduated from Troy Mills High School.  He later attended business school in Cedar Rapids.  Bill served honorably in the United States Navy during WWII.

On January 14, 1952, Bill was united in marriage to Mary “Ginger” Lawler in Parnell. Four children were born to this union.  Together they farmed and resided in the Coggon area. The couple retired in 1990.  For the past two years they resided at The Villages in Marion. 

Survivors include his wife of 66 years, Mary “Ginger” Burke of Marion; his four children, William (Jane) Burke of San Clemente, California, Michael (Beverly) Burke of Walker, Janet (Randy) Weekly of Walker, and Annette (Jerry) Slattery of Winthrop; 12 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; one brother, Glenn (Kay) Burke of Ryan; a brother-in-law, Wayne Meade of Williamsburg; and many nieces and nephews.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Walt Burke and Don Burke; and two sisters, Mary Hamling and Aileen Meade.

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