Burke, Patrick J.; died last Sunday, April 27, 2014; in Statesboro, Georgia after battling ALS for several years. He spent his final days and hours surrounded by his three children and his beloved step-daughter, Lea. He was 69 years old. He was born in Detroit, MI on January 31, 1945, the only son of William P. and Mary Eddy Burke. Patrick was one of five children and was raised in Rochester, MI with his four sisters, all of whom survive, Mary (Arthur) Carlson, of Rochester Hills, MI, Susan B. Little, of Greenville, SC, Martha (Jack) Ramirez, of Seattle, WA, and Penelope Macomber of Rochester, MI. Patrick graduated from Rochester High School in 1963. He went on to earn a Bachelor’s of Science in Animal Husbandry from Michigan State University in 1967. While at MSU, he met Kathleen Loughney on a blind date. They were married in 1968.Patrick was drafted into the US Army and served from 1968 to 1970. He served one year in Vietnam, which led to one of his favorite phrases “I had more fun in Vietnam!” He was honorably discharged as a sergeant and was awarded the National Defense Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal, the Vietnam Campaign Medal and the Army Commendation Medal.After serving his country, Patrick returned to MSU to earn his Master’s of Business Administration in 1971. He and Kathie welcomed their first child, Erin, that same year. Patrick began a 20-year career with his father running the family’s automotive fittings manufacturing business, WP Burke Company, in downtown Rochester. Within a few years, his second child, Shannon was born in 1973 followed by William in 1975. Later, he and Kathie moved to Tybee Island, GA and he became a real estate agent, broker and owner of Tybee Island Realty. He later married Glenda R. Burke, who preceded him in death on November 6, 2012. He changed careers a third time when he went to work as a meat inspector for the State of Georgia Department of Agriculture for 10 years, utilizing his degree in animal husbandry. He and Glenda moved to Millen and he then retired to Statesboro. Patrick and Glenda spent their retirement years enjoying many cruises. Patrick is remembered with love by his first wife, Kathleen Burke Fabrikant; his three children, Erin (Cosmo) Mendez, of Dexter, MI, Shannon (Elton) Todd, of Toccoa, GA, and William (Rachael) Burke, of Jacksonville, FL; three step-children, Lea Nunn, of Statesboro, GA; Richard (Kathy) Nunn, of Garden City, GA; and Shannon (MaryAlice) Nunn, of Pembroke, GA. He also leaves seven grandchildren, Mary Mendez, Grace Mendez, Preston Todd, Madison Todd, Will Burke, Griffin Burke and Owen Burke; and eight step-grandchildren, Candice Jenkins, Kalie Purcell, Connor Purcell, Aaron (Dana) Dudley, Carson Nunn, Matthew Nunn, Ansley (Dan) Brennan, and Ashley Nunn; four step-great-grandchildren, Mallory Dudley, Morgan Dudley, Coleson Brennan and Levi Jenkins. He also leaves several cousins and many loving nieces and nephews. Patrick’s family wishes to express a special thank you to Kimberly Foskey of the Ogeechee Area Hospice for her extraordinary care of Patrick over the past year, and to Pastors Cary and Janet Swanson for helping to meet Patrick’s spiritual needs with their home visits as well as Chaplin Nick at the Ogeechee Area Hospice. Cremation has taken place and a Memorial Service and Celebration of Patrick’s Life will be held at the Joiner Anderson Funeral Home in Statesboro, GA on Friday, May 16, 2014 at 11 a.m. A Private Interment will follow at Bulloch Memorial Gardens. Per Patrick’s wishes, in lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to the Ogeechee Area Hospice, 200 Donehoo Street, Statesboro, GA 30458.