John Thomas “Jack” Bourke
John Thomas “Jack” Bourke, died in Wimberley, Texas on June 28, 2018 at the age of 87. Born on November 28, 1930 in Omaha, Nebraska, he was the son of Leonard Kent Bourke and Elosia Coffin Bourke. Although he was adopted as a baby he was never curious about his birth parents and considered himself a full member of the Bourke family. He grew up in Lincoln, Nebraska. After attending Doane College in Crete, Nebraska, he enlisted in the Army Air Corps in 1950 and served as a radar operator on a small island off of Okinawa. He was discharged from what had become the United States Air Corp in 1954.
Upon returning to Lincoln and the University of Nebraska he met Joan Marie Joyner; they were married exactly one year from their first date on February 3, 1956 in Lincoln. Their son, David Kent, was born in1961 and their daughter, Elizabeth Marie in 1964. During those years Jack was a very successful company sales representative and ultimately owned several small businesses.
With the children grown, Jack began to dream of selling their home and most of their possessions and wandering. Wherever Jack was, Jo considered home, so in September 1986 they set off in a truck pulling a 35 foot 5th wheel trailer with no particular itinerary and certainly no ultimate destination in mind. After a year and nearly 30,000 miles around the United States and across Canada they discovered and settled in Wimberley.
Always busy, Jack served in numerous volunteer positions but ultimately settled on two efforts dear to his heart. St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church where, among other things, he helped create and maintain the Nature Trail. He was very active in the Lions Club where he served for many years as the Field Manager for Lions Club Market Days. He was recognized as Lion of the Year and received the Melvin Jones Award from Lions International.
Jack is survived by his wife of 62 years, Joan Joyner Bourke; son David Bourke and wife Misty; daughter Elizabeth Burress; grandchildren Derek Burress, Luke Burress, Cindy Bourke, Kelly Bourke and bonus grandsons Bret and PJ Arbogast.
Services were held at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church on July 2, 2018 with interment in St. Stephen’s cemetery. In lieu of flowers, those wishing to do so may consider St. Stephen’s Church Trailblazers or the Texas Lions Camp, PO Box 290247, Kerrville.TX 78029-0247.