John Other Burke

Funeral Services Held Monday for John O. Burke, Prominent Whitman Rancher; Burial in Lusk Cemetery

Concluding services were held for the late John Other Burke, prominent rancher of the Whitman community at two o'clock Monday afternoon, September 27th, from the chapel of the Peet mortuary with Rev. Jacob Nein, pastor of the Congregational Christian Church of Lusk officiating. Enriching the services was the singing of "Lead Kindly Light," "Beyond the Sunset" and "The Vacant Chair," by a mixed quartet composed of Mrs. Carl Peterson, Miss Neoma Taylor, Dan Christian and Rex Yocum.

Interment was made in the Lusk cemetery with the remains being borne to their last resting place by Maurice Keel, Ollie Seaman, Fay Swope, Frank Dryer, Ernest Hales, and Dan Jordan. Honorary pallbearers were John Swope, Cleve Zimmerman, Claude Van Blarcum, Ray DeGering George Story and Earle Hales.

John Other Burke, second son of the late Rev. and Mrs. J. B. Burke, was born in Charleston, West Virginia, December 11, 1883 and passed quietly away at the Niobrara Memorial hospital on Friday, September 24, following an illness of three months. He had attained the age of 70 years, nine months and 13 days.

At the age of three years, he moved to Bodarc, Nebr., with his parents where he grew to manhood. He received his education at the Bodarc Schools and at Harrison, Nebr. He was one of a family of 17 children of whom nine survive.

He worked on various ranches around Harrison, one of which was the late Bill Shepard's. While working on this ranch he rode on the cattle roundups, being one of the riders in the last large roundup in the spring of 1909.

On September 16th, 1908, he was united in marriage to Caroline Geike at the home of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. August Geike of Harrison, Nebr. To this union eight children were born all of whom survive. In the fall of 1910, they filed on a homestead 29 miles northeast of Lusk, in the Whitman community, where they had since made their home.

Left to mourn his passing are his wife Carrie, eight children Mrs. Walter Wise, Riverton, Wyo., Nellie Baker, Lusk, Wyo., Mrs. Lee Moore of Lance Creek, Wyo., Mrs. William Klitzke, Kenosha, Wisc., John H. Burke, Hat Creek, Wyo., Clarence F. Burke Kenosha, Wisc., Melvin E. Burke, Fontana, Calif.; and Donald R. Burke of the family home; also six sisters, Mrs. Frank Lewis, Crawford, Nebr., Mrs. Roy Harshman, Bridgeport, Nebr., Mrs. Arvid Johnson, Genoa, Nebr., Mrs. Earl Hasselback, St. Edward, Nebr., Mrs. Dave Snodgrass, Columbus, Nebr., Mrs. Harlan Nelson, Decatur, Ill.; three brothers, Senator Montival A. Burke of Alhambra, Calif., Julous Burke, Long Beach Calif.; and Dr. Charles E. Burke of Bassett, Nebr.; also 25 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, four brothers, one sister, a set of twin children and one grandchild, the latter three dying in infancy.

Mr. Burke was a kind and loving husband, father and neighbor and will be greatly missed by all who knew him.

The Lusk Herald
September 30, 1954
John Burke Dies Here Friday; Final Services Held Mon

John O. Burke, 70, a long-time resident of Niobrara County, died Friday in Memorial Hospital after a month's illness. Funeral services were held Monday at two o'clock in the Peet Mortuary with Rev. Nein of the Congregational Church officiating.

A mixed trio composed of Dan Christian, Mrs. Carl Peterson and Miss Neoma Taylor sang "Lead Kindly Light," Beyond the Sunset" and "The Vacant Chair" accompanied by Mrs. A. F. DeCastro on the chapel organ.

Honorary pallbearers were: John Swope, Claude VanBlarcum, Cleve Zimmerman, Ray DeGering, George Story and Earl Hales. Active pallbearers were: Maurice Keel, Allie Seamna, Fay Swope, Frank Dryer, Ernest Hales and Dan Jordan. Internment was in the Lusk cemetery.

John Other Burke, second son of Rev. and Mrs. J. B. Burke, was born in Charleston, W. Va., Dec. 11, 1883. When three years old he moved to Bodarc, Nebr., with his parents. He received his eduation in the Bodarc schools and at Harrison. He worked on various ranches around Harrison, one of which was the late Bill Shepherd's. While working on this ranch he rode on the cattle roundups, being one of the riders in the last large roundup in the spring of 1909.

He married Caroline Geike, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. August Geike of Harrison, on Sept. 16, 1908. the couple had eight children, all of whom survive. In the fall of 1910 they filed on a homestead 29 miles northeast of Lusk where they have since made their home.

Surviving are: his wife; eight children, Mrs. Walter Wise, Riverton; Mrs. Nellie Baker, Lusk; Mrs. Lee Moore, Lance Creek; Mrs. William Klitzke, Kenosha, Wisc.; John H., Hat Creek; Clarence F., Kenosha; Melvin E., Fontana, Calif.; and Donald R. of the family home; six sisters: Mrs. Frank Lewis, Crawford; Mrs. Roy Harshman, Bridgeport, Nebr.; Mrs. Arvid Johnson, Genoa, Nebr.; Mrs. Earl Hasselbalch, St. Edward, Nebr.; Mrs. Dave Snodgrass, Columbus Nebr.; Mrs. Harlan Nelson, Decatur, Ill.; three brothers: Sen. Montival A., Alhambra, Calif.; Julius, Long Beach, Calif.; Dr. Charles E., Bassett, Nebr.; also 25 grandchildren and four great grandchildren.

Out-of-town relatives here for the funeral included: Mr. and Mrs. Walter Wise and family, Riverton; Mr. and Mrs. Robert L. Moore and family, Mills; Mr. and Mrs. John Hardman and family, Mills; Mr. and Mrs. Roy Harshman, Bridgeport; Mr. and Mrs. Arvid Johnson, Genoa; Mrs. Frank Lewis, Crawford; James Burke, Ainsworth, Nebr.; Mr. and Mrs. William Klitzke and family and Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Burke, all of Kenosha.

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