Celestine O. Burke

Celestine O. Burke

Celestine “Cel” Burke, 77, of Eau Claire, passed away peacefully at home on Friday, June 2, 2006, surrounded by her family.

Cel was born to Carl and Florence Anderson on April 5, 1929 in Spooner, Wisconsin. She attended Badger Girls State and graduated from Spooner High School. She and Douglas V. Burke were married on June 6, 1948.

Cel was a wonderful homemaker and cook who enjoyed passing her recipes on to her children and grandchildren. She also taught ceramics classes for many years from her home studio. She loved the sight and sound of summer thunderstorms, and one of her favorite pastimes was watching songbirds and other wildlife in her back yard. Cel was a long-time member of St. John’s Lutheran Church and an active member of Ruth Circle.

Cel is survived by Doug, her husband of 58 years, and her 4 children: Steven (Sue) of Madison, WI, David (Patti) of Eau Claire, Michael (Lori) of Rogers, MN, and Julie (Michael) Zwinger of Savage, MN; her sister Jeanine (Charles) Coulter of Hopkins, MN; granddaughters Melissa (Adam) Wall and Jamie Burke of Eau Claire, Caroline and Stephanie Burke of Madison, and Niki and Taylor Burke of Rogers; grandsons Kyle and Caleb Burke of Rogers, Jason Burke of Madison, and Thomas and Matthew Zwinger of Savage; and 3 nieces (Ann, Lee and Kris). Muffy and Scamper, her toy poodles, miss her very much.

Cel was preceded in death by her parents and infant granddaughter, Jennifer Burke.

A funeral service will be held at 2:00 PM on Thursday, June 8, 2006 at Fuller-Speckien Funeral Home in Eau Claire, with Father Ed Klimek officiating. Friends may call at the funeral home one hour prior to the service. Burial will follow the service at Prairie View Cemetery in Chippewa Falls.

Online condolences may be sent to www.fullerspeckien.com. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to St. Joseph’s Hospice in Chippewa Falls.

Cel is much loved by her family and friends and will be deeply missed and fondly remembered.