James F. Burke

Funeral services:Monday, March 26, 2007 at 11:00 am at the VA Chapel in Miles City.

Interment: will follow in the Eastern Montana Veterans Cemetery in Miles City with full military honors provided by VFW Post 1579.

James R. Burke, age 78, of Miles City passed away on Tuesday, March 20, 2007 at the VA Nursing Home in Miles City.

James was born on January 8, 1930 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the son of Jenny Keenan. He served in the United States Air Force during the Korean Conflict. He traveled widely in his life time and worked a variety of jobs. He lived in New Orleans for a while before making Montana his home in 1996. He lived in Helena until health problems brought him to the VA Nursing Home Care Unit in Miles City, where he has resided since May of 2002.

Jim was a private person in many ways and did not share a lot of his previous history. He once described himself as very happy, very outspoken, very independent. Jim developed a fondness for a number of the staff at the VA nursing home and could always be counted on to be respectful in all his encounters. He also developed some good friendships at the Trails Inn and a close relationship with Ben and Dorie Jas. These friends helped Jim to celebrate his life, despite his physical limitations.