Obituary of Gary E. Burke

Gary E. Burke March 27, 1937—December 8, 2017 Our loving husband, father and grandfather, Gary E. Burke, 80, of Twin Falls, Idaho and previous resident of Sandy, Utah died Friday December 8, 2017. He was born March 27, 1937 in Soda Springs, Idaho the first son of Ferron P. Burke and Mildred Meacham Burke. Gary grew up in Niter, (Bench) Idaho on the family farm often plowing and harrowing the fields. He attended school in Grace, Idaho where he was active in all sports. He especially loved baseball and was catcher for the high school baseball team. He was a big fan of the San Francisco Giants. He graduated from Grace High School in 1956. He also graduated from Northwest Aviation Training School. He attended two years of college at Brigham Young University and Utah State University. He was called to serve as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints to labor in the Central States Mission in April of 1957. He married Karen Lloyd July 10, 1959 in the Logan Utah Temple. They are the parents of 5 children. He was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and served various positions within the church. Gary enjoyed life and especially the times with his family. He had a real talent for remembering and telling jokes. He always had everyone laughing. He was a good friend and made friends easily. Gary loved to hunt, fish, ski, camp, travel and drive around mountain roads in his Jeep. He loved the Sawtooth Mountains and cooked some awesome Dutch oven potatoes and roast beef at family camping trips, ward, and neighborhood functions. Gary loved to drive his 1941 Ford tractor up and down the streets in Sandy clearing snow for his neighbors. Gary was a hard worker and taught his children how to work hard. For 14 years he had 3 additional family business; building maintenance, food preparation, and lawn mowing business. He worked as a Lab Technician at Thiokol, El Paso, Monsanto, Amalgamated Sugar Company, and retired in 2002 from Bards Access. He also was one of the first members of the Cache County Jeep Search and Rescue. Gary and his wife served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Washington Tacoma Mission for the church recreational properties in 2008-2009. After living in Sandy, Utah for 28 years he and his wife just moved back to Twin Falls, Idaho in May of this year. He is survived by his wife, Karen, of Twin Falls, ID; his children Carey (Russell) Archibald, Castledale, UT, Janiel (Clay) Mecham, Filer, ID, Nate Burke, San Francisco, CA, Dana (Ken) Bassett, Twin Falls, ID; brother Bill (Eloise) Burke of Bench, Idaho; 9 grandchildren and 21 great grandchildren and beloved nieces and nephews. He will be greatly missed by all. Preceded in death by his mother Mildred Burke and father Ferron P. Burke; Grandson Kyle Clayton Mecham and daughter Julie Burke. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 am Wednesday December 13, 2017 at the Rosenau Funeral Home in Twin Falls Idaho. A viewing will be held December 12, 2017 at 6:00pm-8:00 pm at the Rosenau Funeral Home. Viewing Wednesday morning prior to the service beginning at 9:00 a.m. to 9:45 a.m. Burial will be at the Grace Idaho Cemetery at 3:00 p.m.