Suggested Edit:
“Michael Burke, Retired Miner Kincaid, Dies”

Michael J. Burke, 69, of Kincaid died at 3:03 p.m. Wednesday, September 7, 1955 at St. Vincent Memorial Hospital, where he had been a patient for two days. He had been in ill health for the past eight months.

Mr. Burke was born March 9, 1886 in Backworth, England, the son of Michael Jr. and Margaret (Freel) Burke. He married Ada Alice Manuel on October 17, 1912 in Shelbyville. Mr. Burke immigrated to the United States in 1909. He worked as a coal miner at Peabody Coal Mine #7 in Kincaid for 33 years, retiring in 1951. He was a member of the United Mine Workers of America. Mr. Burke was of the Catholic faith.

Surviving are his wife, Ada Alice; seven sons, Michael Sr. (wife, Mary) Burke of Backworth, England, John (wife, Florence) Burke, Patrick (wife, Margaret) Burke and Joseph William (wife, Mary) Burke, all of Kincaid, Bernard (wife, Mary) Burke of Farmersville, Charles (wife, Jean) Burke of Springfield and Robert (wife, Roberta) Burke of Silver City, New Mexico; three daughters, Mrs. Clifford (Margaret) Freeman of Monroe, Wisconsin, Mrs. Betty Borgognoni of Kincaid and Ms. Patricia Burke of Decatur; one brother, John (wife, Mary) Burke of Backworth, England; 17 grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; two sons, both named James Burke; and one granddaughter, Sharon Burke.

Funeral mass was held at 9 a.m. Saturday, September 10, 1955 at St. Rita’s Catholic Church in Kincaid. Father Aloysius Harte officiated, with burial following at Calvary Cemetery in Pawnee. Masterson Funeral Home, in Kincaid, was in charge of arrangements.

The flowers were carried by Gertrude Beitel, Dorothy Bateson, Ina Bateson, Dorothy Burchi, Viola Hargrove, Nellie Purkes, Lillie Chard, Mary Center, Laura Clerick, Hettie Drea, Catherine Roggero, Mary Heiple, Margaret Foli, Helen Duncan, Mary Helen Ess, Maude Howarth, Elizabeth Peddie, Josephine Bucshon, Elizabeth Crovetti, Dorothy Riva, Margaret DeLay, Isabel Brown, Wreatha Riva, Evonne Moliske, Dolores Thaxton, Loudene Walker, Della Heinemeier and Helen Cassidy.

Pallbearers were Sam Purkes, John Gondolfi, William Meacham, Robert Bateson, Charles Foli, Thomas Foli and Richard Foli.
Contributor:
Andrew Paisley - [email protected]