William Burke

William Krage Burke, Age 86, of St. Charles passed away suddenly at Mayo Clinic- St. Mary’s Campus on Sunday October 13th, 2024 with family by his side. He lived a life full of love, laughter, family, friendships and Fords. 

Bill was born June 17th, 1938 in La Crosse Wisconsin to Daniel and Lucille (Krage) Burke. He lived in Dresbach, MN for his early life before moving to St. Charles. He graduated from St. Charles School in 1956. On September 22nd, 1956 Bill married his wife Joanne Ramona Koepsel. Together they created a family of nine children, sixteen grandchildren and six great- grandchildren. 

Bill followed in his father’s footsteps and became a mechanic and auto body man, working for several different shops that included Owl Motor, O&J Motors, Perry Jenks, Don Nachtwih & Dawn Maddox. While working in the “Jenks” era he serviced all the Budweiser Distributing trucks with doing their body repair work and paint jobs. In 1992 he built his own shop in St. Charles; “Big Bill’s Garage”; where he did mechanic work on cars for people local to the St. Charles area. Bill was always a Ford man and thoroughly enjoyed working on them. Throughout his earlier years he was a St. Charles Fireman for 25 years. 

Bill and his wife Joanne enjoyed their family time. In his children’s younger years he went fishing in Whitewater and on the Mississippi; trout fishing was his favorite; and went hunting for deer, pheasants and squirrels with his boys. Taking family vacations in Northern Minnesota & Northern Michigan. They enjoyed several trips with their friend group out to Las Vegas, Nevada together. Bill was on the local Moose Club bowling team that traveled across the country for a National Tournament and his team would split their winnings. In his younger years he loved riding on his Triumph Thunderbird before his dad sold it! He then purchased a 1956 BSA Goldstar motorcycle. In his later years hitting the road with the wind in his hair again was something he yearned for so he purchased a Chrysler LeBaron Convertible and loved to take Sunday drives through the Whitewater Valley to Nelson, WI for a beer and sometimes a sweet treat from the Nelson Creamery. After Joanne’s death Bill continued to take family vacations with his children to Northern Michigan. He also took trips with his sisters Cathy & Pat and brother Dan. They road tripped to every state west of the Mississippi; going East down to the Florida Keys; going through New Orleans before going north home on the East side of the Mississippi.

He will be deeply missed by his children; his son Keith (Joanne) Burke of Elgin, his son William Burke of St. Charles, his daughter Ramona (Eddie) Heyer of Friendship,WI, his daughter Linda (Norman) Bovay of Highland, MI, his daughter Theresa (Robert Rickard) Burke of Rochester, his son James Burke Sr. of St. Charles, his daughter Rebecca (Travis) Ball of Altura and his son Robert Burke of St. Charles. His grandchildren Carissa, Jessie, Kimberly (Sean), James Jr., Katlyn, Cody (Brooke), Andrea (Damon), Andrew, Cassandra, Jacy, Laurel, Jacob (Angel), Brandon, Brody and Lexi; Great- grandchildren Madeline, Rilynn, Kayson, Caleb, Callie and Weston. He was further survived by his sisters Lucille, Catherine, Patrica, Mary, his brother Daniel (Jeanne), his sister-in-law Eileen (Ted) Saathoff, several nieces, nephews, cousins and relatives. 

He was preceded in death by his father Daniel, his mother Lucille, his mother & father-in-law Clemence & Viola Koepsel, his wife Joanne, his daughter Patricia Sue and his grandson John Paul Burke. 

Please join Bill’s family for a celebration of life that will be held on Sunday, November 3rd, 2024 at the St. Charles Moose Club; where he was a long time member; from 10am-2pm. In lieu of flowers all money given will go towards scholarships with the Moose Club.