Norman Laverne Burke- Santa Maria High, CA

10/5/2012

Please Feel Free To Leave A Comment Or A Memory You Had With Norman~

Norman Laverne Burke, 75, of Santa Maria, California passed away on Tuesday, June 10, 2008 at his home in Santa Maria with his loving family attending to him.
Norman was born April 5, 1933 to Raymond and Louise Novo Burke of Santa Maria, California. He grew up in Guadalupe, California and graduated from Santa Maria High School in June of 1952.
Norman served in the United States Air Force during the Korean conflict from November 21, 1952 to November 20, 1956, and his best memories were of the long boat ride to England and the wonderful military experience while serving on acting duty in England. After his discharge from active duty, Norman returned to Santa Maria and worked for John Ingless as a welder, and worked for Helms Bakery which delighted his family when he brought home "goodies" at the end of his workday. He married Jennie Burke in 1960 immediately "inheriting" three wonderful children, Art, Mary, and Theresa. Jennie preceded Norman in death after 37 years of marriage in 1997.
Norman worked for his father Ray in the family's welding shop in Guadalupe and then bought out his father's interest in the business and operated Burke's Blacksmith and Welding in Guadalupe, California until 1987 when he retired.
Norman was an active member of the Santa Maria Elks, Lodge 1538, the Guadalupe American Legion, actively participated in the Mexican Ladies Social Club for the annual Black and White Ball, and was renowned among his friends for his barbecue skills and his excellent cooking skills. He was an avid camper and active member of the Elks Traveleers.
Norman married Shirley Jacklin of Santa Maria, California on Valentine's Day 2004. After his marriage to Shirley, Norman and Shirley continued their active involvement with the Elks Traveleers and traveled extensively in their RV both within California and across the United States. Norman's marriage to Shirley immediately expanded his loving family, and her children all truly loved Norman.
Norman is survived by his wife Shirley Jacklin Burke of Orcutt, California, his children Art Patino and his wife Vicky of Auburn, California, his daughter Mary and her husband Ron Mathisen of Orcutt, California, his daughter Theresa and her husband Buddy Jaquith of Arroyo Grande, California and Shirley's children Steve Jacklin of Fremont, California, Dennis Jacklin and his wife Sandy of Vallejo, California, and Sherry Jacklin of Milwaukee, Oregon. Norman is also survived by nine grand-children, twelve great-grand-children, and one great-great-grandson.
Norman was preceded in death by his parents, Raymond and Louise Burke, his brother Ronald, and his first spouse Jennie.
Norman's family extends special loving thanks to his grand-daughter Jerri as Norman's guardian angel in his last days.
A Memorial Mass will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, June 23, 2008 at Saint Louis de Montfort Catholic Church in Orcutt, California followed by internment at the Santa Maria Cemetery. A celebration of Norman's life will thereafter be held at the Santa Maria Elk's Lodge, 1538 in Santa Maria, California following internment. At the family's request memorial contributions may be made to the Marian Hospice, 504 Plaza, Santa Maria, California 93454.
Arrangements are under the care of Dudley-Hoffman Mortuary and Crematory.
Dudley-Hoffman
Mortuary & Crematory
(805) 922-8463 Published in Santa Maria Times on June 18, 2008

1 Comment

Jerri Lorraine Baker (Burke) Gantenbein

3/25/2020 10:26:00 am

Wow... I had never seen this!I had so many questions that were answered here. Thank you. My Grandpa was the greatest. My fondest childhood memories were of being under his feet watching him barbequing, racing my brother for a quarter to untie his work boot laces after work, watching him pick his teeth with a tooth pic, holes in his clothes from welding, camping, clam digging and Tabasco sauce bottle in his green waiters, that my grandma was sure he was gonna dround in, surf fishing, loud poker nights with the family and friends gathered around the kitchen table, home made food, beans and Tortillas... everyone had to make one, it was ritual and the men in the family with Grandma's favor got to take home the fresh stack of tortillas. It was a big thing to gloat about!!! His Gallo wine jug and tall Tupperware cups he drank it from, playing at the welding shop in Guadalupe... I still love the smell of that place. I loved visiting Grampa Ray and Grandma Louise for BBQs, and listening to them speak Portuguese. They were all so fun to listen to, especially when him and my grandma would bicker in the kitchen, usually because one couldn't hear what the other was saying! "I Norman!"... or "I Jenny!"
And we laughed when he would call a line of names... Mary... Jerri...Terri... To get to who he was trying to address or scold, probably me!!! I was often reminded that I was, "Miss Priss", and that I had ,"Bird legs!" And that I got my butt spanked all the way home from my friends house, Karen Walker, after he noticed I creatively colored all over his beloved little Volkswagen station wagon! When Grampa was mad... We knew it! But mostly I remember his laugh, his gold teeth and how he loved to tickle my face with his mustashe, trying to give me a big smootch! He was an awesome Grampa. I loved Dancing on his boots as a little girl and was blessed to care for him when he went home to be with the Lord and Grandma. This is how I remember my Grandpa.

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Norman Laverne Burke- Santa Maria High, CA

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