Mike Burke, 78 of Marion, Iowa died peacefully in his sleep on January 29, 2020 at his home after a long battle with cancer and Alzheimer's. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 am on Saturday, February 8, 2020 at the Holland-Coble Funeral Home, 308 W. Maple Street, New Sharon, IA. 50207. Visitation will begin at 12:00 pm at the Holland-Coble Funeral Home, 308 W. Maple Street, New Sharon, IA. 50207 with the family present from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm on Friday, February 7, 2020. Burial will be held in the Highland Cemetery in New Sharon. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Sharon Burke so that she may make a memorial donation to Hospice, for the wonderful care that Mike received, or for Alzheimer's in honor of Mike's mom, Lena, since she fought that disease for many years. Holland-Coble Funeral Home of New Sharon is in charge of arrangements.

Michael Leo Burke, the son of Leo Joseph Burke and Lena (Swim) Allgood was born on March 4, 1941 in Martinsburg, Nebraska at home. Sometime later, John Allgood became his stepfather. He attended/graduated from Oskaloosa High School in 1958. Mike enlisted in the Army in August, 1959 and soon was deployed to Korea and was honorably discharged on July 31, 1962. He then joined the Air Force in November, 1963 and was deployed to Vietnam. After he was honorably discharged in May, 1968, Mike acquired many skills in various trades to a monetary dispatcher. Mike and his family lived in various locations in his lifetime from New Sharon to Ottumwa while attending Indian Hills College, then moving his family back to California. In 1975, Mike and his wife (Sharon) purchased Mike's Department Store in New Sharon, Iowa. At this time, he was in the National Guard. In 1980, he sold the store and moved back to California. It was at this time Mike tried his hand at servicing fire extinguishers, which led him to purchase his second business, S.A.F.E. Fire in San Diego, CA. Upon deciding to retire, Mike sold his business and he and his wife moved back to Iowa making their home in Marion, Iowa.

Mike loved sports in his younger years and played a lot of pool. While in the service, he became a ping pong champion and came home and shared his skills with his nephews, spending hours in the basement at the ping pong table at his sister, Audrey's home. He was a lover of tennis and played many a game against his friend Bill Woods and nephew Gregg Johnston. Mike spent hours playing football with his nephews and niece while Robin, his daughter, was the center and upon being crushed would run bawling to the house. He also was a volunteer football coach for many of the teenage boys in New Sharon, IA. He was on a basketball team with his brother, Pat, and spent hours volunteer coaching New Sharon teenagers how to play. Mike golfed until he could not golf anymore from California to Oklahoma to Iowa with his grandson, Brock, brother Pat, nephew Gregg, niece Christy and nephews Robbie, Johnny, Jeff and David and his wife Sharon. Mike loved to dance even if Sharon struggled to stay on beat. Mike was an avid lover of boxing and loved to spar with his daughter in the living room while watching the matches. Most of all, Mike was a weekend travel warrior, loading up his wife and daughter and just started driving. He would not make a plan, he would not have a destination, but somehow was always going someplace new and enjoying the discoveries along the way. Mike made sure his daughter got to experience America and its rich history, theme parks, and miles of land. Mike was a member of the V.F.W., the American Legion in Marion, Prairie Knolls Country Club in New Sharon until 1980 and the Oskaloosa YMCA. He was also a Volunteer fireman with the New Sharon Fire and Rescue from 1976 to 1980.

His memory will be honored by his spouse of 55 years, Sharon (Guyer) Burke of Marion, IA.; his daughter, Robin (Marvin) Burke White of Earlville, IA; his two grandchildren, Levi (Mony) McBeth of Ankeny, IA, and Brock White of Alva, OK.; his three great grandchildren, Mason, Kerra, and Colton McBeth; his brothers, Pat Burke of Oskaloosa, IA., and Dwight (Judy) Allgood of Kentucky; his sister, Audrey Burke of Eddyville, IA.; his nephews, Gregg (Jana) Johnston, Robert (Sheri) Johnston, Mike (Liz) Burke, John Johnston, David (Renee) Johnston, Jeff Johnston and niece, Christy Burke Smith and many great nephews, nieces and several friends.

Mike was preceded in death by his father, Leo Burke; his mother, Lena Allgood; his stepfather, John Allgood; his grandparents, Patrick and Sadie Burke and Charles and Eva Swim and a nephew, Danny Johnston.