After Dad retired in 1987 he and Mom moved to Elkhorn, Wisconsin where they reside today. This chapter of life was marked by many wonderful family events and enjoyable times spent with friends. 

In March 1967 and October of 1970 Tom Jr. and J.J. were born; the last two children of the Burke clan. The family resided at 1611 Emerson Street and later moved to 2618 Chatsworth Drive.

During these years the family celebrated the high school graduations of Kathy (976), Maura (1977), Aileen (Leeni,1978) and Margaret (Peg, 1980).

In1980, dad accepted a new position as Corporate Director of Industrial and Public Relations for Beloit Corporation which initiated a period of travel to places such as Italy, Spain, England and Brazil.

This chapter was marked by the births of daughters Kathleen (Kathy), Maura, Aileen (Leeni) and Margaret (Peg). It was also a period of travel for work. The family lived in Westchester, Pennsylvania and then in Quebec, Canada during this time.

Courtship and Marriage

Dad and mom went on a date in summer of 1957. They were set up by a mutual friend. Dad sent mom flowers after their date and the rest is history. They married on November 30, 1957 and enjoyed 61 years of marriage and until the very end dad always wanted to be right by her side.

Dad went into the Navy in 1944 and was discharged in 1947. He then took advantage of the GI Bill, went to school for 5 years and received his law degree from the University of South Dakota in 1952. He worked for the Department of Agriculture as legal counsel and was based out of Minneapolis and Chicago. This led up to the time when he met his future wife Jody in Chicago 1957

Dad was born in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. He was the sixth of seven children of Frances and Mary Estella Burke. His mother died when he was three years old and he and his siblings were raised by their father with whom they enjoyed a close personal relationship. He graduated from Cathedral High School in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.