Velma Burke

VELMA BURKE

Earlville

Velma M. Burke, 96, formerly of Earlville, died Monday, April 20, 2015. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, April 27, at Earlville United Parish. Family will greet friends from 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday, April 26, at Clifton Murdoch Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Earlville, and one hour before the service Monday at the church. Burial will be at Fairview Cemetery, Earlville.

Velma was born Jan. 13, 1919, in Anamosa, Iowa, the daughter of John August and Mathilda Christina (Eiben) Schmidt. Attending school in Jones and Delaware counties, she graduated from the Earlville school system in 1936. Velma was united in marriage to Loren Burke on June 22, 1936, in Manchester. As well as farming with her husband in Delaware County, she worked at Bush's Drug Store, Holscher Motor Company and as a secretary for the Earlville United Parish until 2000.

Velma was a member of the Earlville United Parish, where she served on various boards, United Parish Women's Group, choir and taught Sunday school. She was also active in the garden club, EOT Club, loved to travel, made wedding cakes and enjoyed reading and working word puzzles.

Velma is survived by four children, Ronald Burke of Winthrop, Janice (Robert) Miller of Earlville, Joe (Linda) Burke of Woodland, Calif., and Alan (Terry) Burke of Cairo, Egypt; 12 grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; and 23 great-great-grandchildren.

Velma was preceded in death by husband, Loren in 2009; her parents, John and Mathilda Schmidt; one granddaughter, Lee Ann Miller; two great-grandchildren, Jacqueline Ellyson and Nathan Bernardy; brothers and sisters, Bill and Dorothy Schmidt, Ed and Amanda Schmidt, Alvin and Louise Schmidt, Edna and Woodrow Lewis, Hilda and Gordon Smith, Paul and Elda Schmidt and Lester and Bernice Schmidt; one brother-in-law, Robert Burke; and a daughter-in-law, Darlene Burke.

Please share a memory of Velma at www.murdoch

funeralhome.com under obituaries.