Shirley Ann Burke

Shirley Ann Burke, age 89, was welcomed home into the arms of her loving Heavenly Father on Wednesday, July 3rd, 2024. We grieve her loss, as she touched so many lives with her sweet spirit and endearing smile. But we rejoice in her homegoing, being confident the Lord greeted her with, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant.” Hers was truly a life well lived. 

 Shirley was born on January 2, 1935 on a farm in Berne, Indiana, and was the youngest of nine children. She graduated from Berne-French High School in 1953, attended Fort Wayne Bible College in 1954, and was married to John Burke on July 1, 1955. They were true soulmates and shared 69 years of sweet marriage together. John and Shirley served side by side in ministry as pastor and wife in Leesburg, IN, Wheaton, IL, Akron, OH, and Waterloo, IA. 

 Along with being a pastor’s wife, Shirley was a gifted pianist and played for worship services, congregational singing, choirs and cantatas. She also taught private piano lessons for 37 years both in their home and at Walnut Ridge Academy in Waterloo, IA. Shirley was an active member of the B Natural Music Club, and various music committees. 

 She loved children, and hosted Good News Bible Clubs in their home, as well as taught the two and three-year-old class at church. In her years, she served as a role model and wise counselor for many young moms and families. Shirley also had the gift of gracious hospitality and entertained a host of missionaries, Bible teachers, and traveling pastors in their home. 

 Their final years of ministry together were at Covenant Living of Colorado, where they have lived for the last 24 years. John served as Chaplain and Shirley was heavily involved in music ministry, where she played the piano for small vocal ensembles (the three “B’s”), vespers services, and the community choir. 

 Shirley was an amazing cook, and some of her specialties were baking bread, pies, homemade granola, and churning butter. She also loved canning and freezing home-grown produce from John’s garden. She had a special love for ice cream, and could scout out a nearby Dairy Queen anywhere. 

 She was preceded in death by her parents, David P. Steury and Mary P. Habegger Steury, along with siblings Esther, Clara, Frank, Clint, Flo, Ruth, Ernie, and Mary Alice. 

 She is survived by her husband, John, and her two daughters, Jill McCluskey (Don) and Bonnie Garcia (Steve). She is also survived by grandsons Jesse McCluskey (Hazel), Jared McCluskey, Nathan Garcia (Meredith), Daniel Garcia (Lindsay), and Jonathan Garcia, a great-grandson Elliot McCluskey, and a host of cousins, nieces, and nephews. 

 Her memorial service will be held at the Smith Fellowship Hall on the campus of Covenant Living of Colorado on Wednesday, August 21st, at 10:00 AM. The address is: 9153 Yarrow St., Westminster, CO 80021. All are welcome to attend as we honor and celebrate Shirley’s life. 

 Donations can be made in her honor to the Covenant Living Benevolent Fund https://www.covliving.org/contact-us/donation/.

When accessing the link, please select Covenant Living of Colorado Benevolent Care Fund as the location. You may also note that the gift is being made in Shirley’s honor. Shirley’s family is so grateful for everyone’s deep care and loving support at this time.