Joseph Richard Burke

Joseph Richard BURKE, formerly of Topshee Drive, Sydney and Big Beach, Cape Breton, has passed away Tuesday, 26 August, 2025, at 101 years of age. Born in Windsor, Ontario, he was the son of Patrick Joseph Burke (Little Lorraine) and Christie (Bryden) Burke (Highlands, Christmas Island). They moved to Big Beach, Cape Breton, when Joe was four years old.

From his early teens, Joe looked after the family farm while his father was away working. At the age of 16, on 18 June, 1940, Joe began his military career, joining the Cape Breton Highlanders (CBH). He was too young to embark with CBH overseas and so was reassigned to the North Shore N.B. Regiment and deployed to England in April, 1942. After a motorcycle accident in February, 1944, he was assigned to the Toronto Scottish (MG) Regiment. Joe served as a Dispatch Rider and participated in the battle for Normandy, France, as well as the campaign to liberate North West Europe; returning to Canada July, 1945.

After the war, he re-joined the Signal Corps and held many postings in Canada and with NATO in West Germany during the Cold War. After Joe retired in 1969, he moved back to Big Beach. He worked at Michelin Tire for five years, then became a Captain of the Grand Narrows Ferry in 1975. In 1982, he became Captain-in-Charge of inland ferries on Cape Breton Island, retiring in 1986. In November, 1943, Joe married Helen Spence of Glasgow, Scotland. As a war bride, Helen emigrated to Canada, raised their children and embraced her new home for the next 41 years, until she passed away. He is also predeceased by his second wife, Gladys (Quinton), to whom he was married for 39 years, and by his parents, Patrick and Christie, his sister, Mary (Rizok), three children in infancy: John, Sam, and Maria Anne, and his great-grandson, Sean Amos.

Joe is survived by his sister, Alice McMaster, Inverness, his children: Anna (Brian), Pat, David (Jennifer), Kathleen (Dan), Joe (Cecilia) and Ian (Rose), step-children: Dwight (Elizabeth) MacLeod, and Judy (Peter) Calder, grandchildren: Jamie (Claire) Stensrud, Laura (Brad) Amos, Brendan (Ainsley) Burke, Joe (Michelle) Patrie, Sean (Kimberly) Weatheral, Douglas Burke, Eric Burke, Michael (Kimberly) Burke, Jon (Alexandra) Burke, Matthew (Alysha) Trynchuk, Ian Burke, David Burke, and Maeve Burke. He is also survived by many great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

Joe was a good man, always mindful of his humble origins. He was known in Big Beach school as the protector of the bullied. Burly for his age, he was taken as old enough and certainly strong enough to be recruited to fight the war. And he was strong…he used to walk up a flight of stairs…on his hands…and give his kids rides on his back as he did his daily push-ups. He always thought of himself as a country boy, and was told by his teacher that he’d never amount to much, however; he travelled half-way across the globe, fought (and survived) a World War, married a Scottish/Irish woman, rose to the rank of Warrant Officer (Sergeant-Major) in the Canadian Army, worked after retirement, with Michelin, furnace repair, then with the Ferry Service as Captain-in-Charge of Cape Breton Ferries.

Joe received an Honorary Doctorate of Letters from Cape Breton University in 2021 and was granted France’s Highest Honour, the Legion d’Honeur, in 2015, for his contribution to the liberation of France in WWII. He never forgot his Comrades, both those he left behind overseas, and the ones who survived, and so became involved with the Atlantic Signals’ Association, and the Cape Breton Highlanders Association. He put together a book chronicling the Dates of Death of the Cape Breton Highlanders. Joe was also a Member of the Royal Canadian Legion, Grandona Branch 124, serving multiple positions: Service Officer, Poppy Chairman, and President, becoming Zone 1 Commander and a Life Member.

He was a founding member and driving force in the creation of the Christmas Island Volunteer Fire Dept and for many years he had voluntarily done taxes for seniors in the communities where he lived. He would also repair furnaces and do small jobs for community members in need. Joe Burke was a man of service; to his faith, his family, his community, and his country. He was a man of peace. By his example, these values, and more, have been instilled in his children and grandchildren, and we are forever grateful.

The family wishes to pass on our sincerest thanks and appreciation to the nurses and staff at Rideout House, Paliative Care/Continuing Care, VON and especially Cape Breton Hospice Centre for your exceptional care, professionalism and attention that you gave Joe.

Visitation (wake) will be held at St. Barra Church, Christmas Island, September 3, 2025 (4-7 pm); Funeral Mass will be at St. Columba Church, Iona, September 4, 2025, (11 am); burial at Christmas Island Cemetery. Memories and condolences can be shared with the family by visiting twcurry.com