Paul E. Burke

Paul E. Burke, 78, of Emlenton, a prominent Eau Claire insurance representative, passed away early Wednesday evening at the Serenity House in Shippenville, Pa., following a lengthy illness.

Born July 12, 1937, near Eau Claire, he was the son of the late Paul A. and Minnie C. Dally Burke.

He was married April 22, 1960, at St. Mark Church in Monroe, Clarion County, to L. Diane Best Burke, who passed away May 31, 2005.

Paul was a longtime member of the East Unity Presbyterian Church in Cherry Valley, where he served as trustee, elder and church treasurer.

He was a 1955 graduate of the former Emlenton High School and had attended Point Park and Robert Morris colleges in Pittsburgh as well as earning credits at the former Pennsylvania Military College.

He began an insurance career with the Nationwide Insurance Co. in 1969, and in 1972 he established the Paul E. Burke Agency in Eau Claire. In 2009, the agency was changed to another firm of which Paul was associated for a number of years.

He served with the U.S. Marine Corps for nearly eight years from which he was honorably discharged with the rank of lance corporal, Dec. 7, 1963.

Paul was long active with Rotary International serving with Dormont/Mount Lebanon, Brandywine and finally many years with Parker Rotary clubs. While involved with Parker Rotary, he served many years as co-chair of the Hartman Golf Classic at the Foxburg Country Club.

A member of the Foxburg Country Club, he served many years as a board member and was a board member of the American Golf Hall of Fame at Foxburg. Beginning in 1982, he initiated the Scrubgrass Invitational hosted annually at Foxburg.

Paul was an avid hunter and was a life member of the NRA, and he was also a life member of the North American Hunting and Fishing Association.

He is survived by two sons and their wives, John P. and Stacy Burke of Pleasantville, Pa., and Jeffrey L. and Dina Burke of Clayton, N.C.; six grandchildren, Sarah, Annah, Noah, Avah, Isabelle and Jason Burke; one brother and her wife, Harold and Joanne Burke of Emlenton; many nieces and nephews; and two sisters-in-law, Mary and Shirley Burke.

In addition to his wife and parents, he was preceded in death by two brothers, Floyd and Samuel Burke; and one sister, Margaret “Peg” Burke Rankin.

BURKE — Friends of Paul E. Burke, who died Wednesday, April 27, 2016, may call from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at the H. Jack Buzard Funeral Home, 201 S. Washington St., Eau Claire.Funeral service will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at the East Unity Presbyterian Church with the Rev. Dr. Paul Schaffer, church pastor, officiating. There will be no prior visitation at church.Burial will follow at the East Unity Church Cemetery. Appropriate military recognition will be Saturday morning at the church service.