Burke – Rev. Arnie Carl Burke of Brooks, beloved husband of the late Natalie Burke, passed away in Brooks on Saturday, June 23rd, 2018 at the age of 80 years. Arnie was born on June 6th, 1938 in Barrhead, Alberta to Carl Elmer Burke and Susanna Burke (nee Dofka). He grew up on a mixed farm near Bloomsbury, Alberta with his older sister Barbara and two younger sisters, Linda and Judy. Arnie went to school in Bloomsbury, walking some miles to get there on a daily basis, and then attended school in Barrhead, where Arnie and his sister travelled on by bus. Arnie received his grade 12 diploma and continued working on the family farm. He met Natalie Joy Witte and they were married in Edmonton, Alberta on June 17th, 1967. Arnie and Natalie had a baby girl, Janet Lynn in 1968 and a baby boy in 1970, Douglas Norman. His father Elmer died in 1971 and Arnie decided to change his vocation. He studied at Northern Alberta Institute of Technology in Edmonton to be a mechanic and started work at Stephani Motors, in Barrhead. The family moved into Barrhead and lived there until 1978, when Arnie felt the call of God to become a Pastor in the Lutheran Church. The family moved to Saskatoon, Saskatchewan and Arnie where studied at the Lutheran Theological Seminary. He finished seminary education in 1981 and went to be Lutheran Pastor in Oyen, Alberta. In 1985, Arnie felt a calling to ministry in Australia, and the family immigrated to Australia. He served as a Pastor in Jeparit, Victoria, Australia until 1989. They then moved to Canberra, ACT, Australia at Youth With A Mission, then moved to Wycliffe Bible Translators in Kangaroo Ground, Victoria, Australia and then in the Church apartments at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Southgate, Victoria, Australia. He decided to return to the Lutheran Ministry in Canada and in 1998, Arnie and Natalie moved to Wainwright, Alberta where he served as a Pastor. In 2001, Arnie and Natalie moved to Bethany Lutheran Church near Tilley where he was Pastor until he retired and moved to Redcliff, Alberta. Natalie died in 2015 and Arnie subsequently moved to Brooks in 2017 and lived with his daughter, Janet and family. Arnie was predeceased by his loving wife Natalie Joy Burke and parents, Carl and Susanna Burke. Arnie is survived by his children Janet Lynn Isimeli and her husband Samuel and Douglas Norman Burke and his wife Naomi;7 grandchildren, Benjamin Isimeli, Lydia Isimeli, Jayden Isimeli, Alyssa Isimeli, Kelvin Burke, Martin Burke and Rory Burke, sisters Barbara Hunter, Linda Fortin and Judy Borrmann and numerous nieces and nephews. Funeral services were held on Thursday, June 28th, 2018 at 11:00 AM from Bassano Evangelical Free Church. Rev. Don Phllip officiated. In memory of Arnie, if friends desire, memorial tributes may be made to Wycliffe Bible Translators of Canada, 4316 – 10th Street NE, Calgary, Alberta T2E 6K3.
