In Memory of Ronald Paul Burke

In memory of Ronald Paul Burke:

Rae Lawson’s father, Ronald Paul Burke, recently passed away on October 1, 2023 at age 90. Ron grew up in the Lombard/Elmhurst suburbs of Chicago, met his wife, Patricia, in high school and was married a few years later.

Ron entered the Navy where his aptitude for electronics and technology became apparent. After leaving the Navy, he worked at Argonne National Lab and was later recruited by NASA to work in the space program. He had an interesting career with NASA and worked at several space tracking stations around the world including the island of Zanzibar off Africa’s east coast, Wallops Island, VA and Corpus Christi, TX. He left NASA in the late 1960’s and moved the family to Michigan, where he worked for the Brunswick Corporation and a team developing an indoor golf game. Later, he moved to Phoenix, AZ and worked for the Three Phoenix Corporation in computer and technology product development.

Ron and Patricia were both members of Jehovah’s Witnesses as adults and were committed to working with people in their various communities and serving their faith.

Ron and Patricia later moved to the Branson, MO area where he gradually learned how to retire and finally ended his career at age 80.

Ron was predeceased by his wife, Patricia, who passed away on July 6, 2020. Ron is survived by Bonnie Rae Lawson, “Rae” to all of us in Castle Park, one of six children, including an adopted son who was an exchange student from Germany.

A memorial service is planned on Saturday, November 4th at 2:00PM at the Holland Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses, 2854 120th Avenue in Holland. Mark Lawson will be officiating the service.

Posted by Mark Fuller