Eugene "Bud" Burke

Eugene "Bud" Howard Burke, 71, of Red Wing, died Saturday at St. Joseph's Hospital in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin after a courageous battle from lung cancer. He was born on November 23, 1938 in Red Wing to Howard and Helen (Pohl) Burke. He attended St. Joseph's School and graduated from Red Wing Central High School in 1956. On September 2, 1961 he married Mary Jean Kasel in Vermillion. He joined Co. B 1st BN 135th Infantry of the Minnesota National Guard in Red Wing in 1954 while a sophomore in High School. He rose to the rank of SFC before attending the Minnesota Military Academy in 1960-1961. He was commissioned in 1961 and retired as a Major in 1979. He worked at Sears and Whirlpool in St. Paul, drove bus for Lee Lines from 1960 - 1975, and worked at SB Foot Tannery from 1960 until his retirement in June of 2002. He was a member of the Church of St. Joseph, American Legion, and Knights of Columbus. He loved fishing, hunting, gardening especially flowers, and going to his camper.

Survivors include his wife, Mary Jean; two sons, Gary (Joyce) of Mooresville, North Carolina and Michael of Red Wing; three daughters Jean Burke of Red Wing, Joan Gray of Mendota Heights and Susan (Mike) Haydon of Rochester; 6 grandchildren, Taylor, Justin, Max, Esme, Kinzie, and Kacey; and one brother, Jerry (Cheryl) Burke of Woodbury. He was preceded in death by his parents, and infant brother.

Mass of Resurrection will be 12 noon, Friday, September 10, 2010 at Church of St. Joseph with Father Thomas Kommers presiding. Burial will be in the Calvary Cemetery with Military Honors provided by the Leo C. Peterson American Legion Post #54. Visitation will be on Thursday from 5 -7 p.m. with a 7 p.m. American Legion Service at Mahn Family Funeral Home, Bodelson-Mahn Chapel. Visitation will also be held for one hour prior to the service at the church. Memorials are preferred to American Cancer Society.