Barbara Jane Burke

Barbara was born in Kennard, NE; the oldest of 3 children to Alice and Harold Schafer. She attended North High School followed by Doane College before starting a 10-year career at Northern Natural Gas during which time she met her first husband, James Allen Roberts, who was stationed at Offutt Air Force Base. Married in 1954, they had 5 children, Robyn, Stephen, Cheryl, Holly, and Jamie. Following Jim’s death in 1967, Barbara raised her children for the next 20 years and was an extraordinary single parent. After her children were on their own, she married Omaha attorney Thomas R. Burke and they spent 19 happy years together before Tom’s passing in 2012. Barbara loved anything related to her family and devoted herself to providing vacations, Husker games, ice skating, water skiing, love of music, pets, and time in Okoboji with her children. Barbara was a member of the Knights and Ladies of the Holy Sepulchre and PEO. Her life was well lived despite the challenges of raising 4 children on her own. She led by example and rose to every occasion with grace and dignity. She was a devoted Daughter, Sister, Mother, friend, and loving wife.



Preceded in death by her husband, Thomas R. Burke, first husband James Allen Roberts, daughter, Cheryl Roberts, stepson Tim Burke and brother, Harold L. Schafer, Jr. Survived by children, Robyn (Robert) Freeman, Stephen A. Roberts, Holly Wichert, Jamie (Craig) Volkens; Thomas R. (Wendy) Burke, Jr., Melanie (Pete) Ziegler, Lisa Burke, Laura Marcell, Daniel (Lynn) Burke; grandchildren, Stephen J. Roberts, Allyson Freeman, Lauren Freeman, Susan Freeman, Nathan Wichert, Vanessa Vaiskunas, Brent Volkens; Thomas R. Burke, III, Trevor Burke, Tanner Burke, Emily Ziegler Langdon, Pamela Ziegler Langel, Andrew Burke-O'Kane, Benjamin Burke-O'Kane, Robert Marcell, J. Maxwell Marcell, Matthew Burke, Michael Burke, Andrea Burke and 18 great grandchildren.



Funeral Service Thursday, 10:00am at Christ the King Catholic Church with private interment in Resurrection Catholic Cemetery. The funeral can be viewed online at https://heartstreaming.net/barbara-roberts-burke Visitation with the famiy one hour prior to the service at church. In lieu of flowers, memorials to the American Alzheimer’s Association.