Tombo Burke

Visitation will be 9-11 AM, Saturday, March 23, 2013, followed by Mass of Christian Burial at 11 AM, at Redemptorist Catholic Church, 3333 Broadway, Kansas City, MO. Inurnment will follow at Mt. Moriah Cemetery, Kansas City, MO. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Kansas City Hospice House, 12000 Wornall Road, KCMO, or to The Salvation Army, 3637 Broadway, KCMO, 64111.

Our dad was born to Thomas and Faye Burke in Washington, PA, Hospital on January 3rd 1928. He and his twin sister, Fayetta, were the first set of twins born there. He fought hard to be with us until his favorite day of the year, St. Patrick’s Day. He passed away on the evening of March 16, 2013, but in Ireland it was already past midnight, as St. Patrick ushered dad into heaven. You made it dad! He grew up in Squirrel Hill, Pennsylvania, where he received the nickname “Tombo” from an employee at a nearby service station. He hasn’t answered to anything else since then. He began working at the local drugstore at the age of 12, earning 15 cents an hour working behind the counter making malts and walking to deliver prescriptions. When Tombo was 16, he began working in the steel mills. He graduated from Taylor-Alderdice High School in 1946, where he was the Captain of both the football and track team. Upon graduation, he immediately started working on the ore ships which traveled throughout the Great Lakes. He attended Grove City College where as a walk-on he became Captain of the football team, also playing on the all-star team. He proudly served in the Army during the Korean War. Upon discharge, he caught a ride with a buddy to visit his sister in Kansas City, and stayed. He was attending one of the legendary Rockhurst Discussion Club gatherings, where he met his beautiful wife of 51 years, Teresa Henninger. Our dad had a strong work ethic, traveling across the Midwest selling industrial tool equipment. Dad began wearing a black bowler hat at a young age, and was easily recognizable with both his hat and endless list of jokes he told. He always had the disclaimer that he didn’t write them, he just told them. Tombo enjoyed bartending on Saturdays at Kelly’s Westport Inn for over 25 years, and then at The Westsider. Tombo was known for making the best Bloody Marys in town. He took up the game of handball over fifty years ago, and was seen regularly at the KCAC. His handball buddies are truly a family. Another family of friends are the Hibernians of KCMO that Tombo was proud to be part of. He led the 2012 St. Patrick’s Day parade as Kansas City’s Irishman of the year. He claimed it was one of the best days of his life! Tombo is survived by his loving wife, Teresa. He was always proud of his four children: his son, Patrick Burke; his daughters, Kelly (Steve) Meagher, Katie (David) Goode, and Bridget Child. Tombo adored his grandchildren: Courtney Burke; Mitchell, Molly, Reed, and Anna Meagher; Emma and Grant Goode; and Kevin, Carter and Jack Child. Tombo was blessed to have many friends locally and around the country. Until then…Slainte!