Rita Burke

Rita Kay (Hughes) Burke, 71, of Denver, Colorado, died Saturday, August 23, 2014, at the Village at Lowry in Denver from complications associated with Alzheimer’s disease.

Rita Kay (Hughes) Burke was born on April 20, 1943, the daughter of Bill and Kate (Murray) Hughes of rural Casey, Iowa. She graduated from Adair-Casey High School in 1961 and Iowa State University in 1965.

She married Alan James Burke on September 3, 1966, in Casey, Iowa. Rita taught at Valley High School in Des Moines, Bettendorf Middle School, and Alcester-Hudson High School for a number of years.

Rita was a former trustee on the Hawarden Library Board of Trustees. She was an active in her Church, P.E.O. and other civic organizations.

Rita is survived by her brother Jim (Rita) Hughes of Council Bluffs, Iowa; four children, Sean (Carmen) Burke of Loma Linda, California, Erin Vogel of Denver, Colorado, Tom (Cheryl) Burke of Stewartsville, New Jersey, and Michael (Jaime) Burke of Omaha, Nebraska; ten grandchildren; mother-in-law, Janet Burke of Atlantic; brother-in-law, Barry (Mary Lou) Burke of Boston, Massachusetts; and sister-in-law, Susan (Craig) Smith of Atlantic.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Alan Burke; father, Bill Hughes; and mother, Kate Hughes.

Mass of Christian Burial was held Tuesday, August 26, 2014, at Christ the King Catholic Church in Denver. A committal service will be held at 11:30 a.m., Saturday, September 6, 2014, at the Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Cemetery in Atlantic, Iowa, with a reception to follow.

The family asks that donations be made to the West Sioux Educational Foundation in honor of the Rita.

Roland Funeral Service is assisting the family with local arrangements. Condolences may be left at www.rolandfuneralservice.com