Jean Sykes Burks

Jean, called “Jeanie” by her loved ones, was one of 5 children born to the late Wayne and Ann Sykes of Eau Claire, WI. The Sykes family raised diehard Green Bay Packers fans and spent their summers at the Sykes’ cottage on Lake Altoona. Jeanie was athletic and even performed in waterskiing shows. She adored her siblings and her three sisters remained her best friends throughout life. Jeanie was very close to her younger brother Jim Sykes until his sudden passing in 1994. She graduated from Regis High School in Eau Claire and St. Catherine’s College in St. Paul, MN earning a Bachelor’s degree in Education. After graduation, Jeanie moved to Anaheim, CA where she taught elementary school and worked as a Disneyland tour guide in the summers. Jeanie met her husband, Rucker Burks, in 1966 and they married in 1967. In their early years of marriage, Jeanie and Rucker enjoyed golf and bridge and became lifelong Oakland Raiders fans. Jeanie gave birth to 4 children in California before moving to Chadds Ford, PA where she had 2 more children. Jeanie was in charge of the junior golf program at Concord Country Club and was very active in her children’s schools and volunteered with Meals on Wheels. She loved going on walks with neighbors and was active in bible studies and bridge groups. Jeanie and family moved to Parker, CO in 1989. She worked at Ponderosa High School and the Douglas County School District for 16 years. She worked at Williams Sonoma for 18 years and was known for her knowledge on cookware and fine kitchen supplies. Customers asked for Jeanie specifically due to her expertise, high quality customer service and positivity. She was active at Ave Maria Catholic Church as a CCD teacher and Eucharistic Minister. Jeanie loved her P.E.O. sisters, exercising at 24-hour fitness, her POOPS bridge group, golfing, long walks, the Colorado Rockies Silver Sluggers group, her neighbors, and many, many friends. She loved being around people but mostly she adored her 6 children, their spouses and being “Mamma” to her 17 grandchildren. Mamma could be found at a variety of events around Colorado and out of state supporting her family. She spent her life following her mother’s saying “Be kind, generous and loving.”

Jeanie is survived by her loving husband of 52 years, Rucker Burks; children Jeff (Laurie), Kevin (Diana), Cathy (Stephen), Tricia (David), Karenmarie (Mike) and Ann; grandchildren Alex, Austin, Taylor, Mikee, Brayden, Preston, Kayli, Caitlyn, Benji, Trevin, Jeremiah, Nico, Ethan, Jonas, Jonathan, Charley and Trey; three sisters Margaret Savelkoul, Cathy Sykes, and Carol Hagmann as well as numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, extended relatives and dear friends.

A funeral Mass to honor Jeanie will be held at Ave Maria Catholic Church (9056 E Parker Rd, Parker, CO 80138) on November 14, 2019 at 4:30pm. Please join our family for a reception immediately following at the PACE Center (20000 Pikes Peak Avenue, Parker, CO 80138) from 6:00 to 8:30pm.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made In Memory of Jean Burks to Samaritan House Homeless Shelter: 6240 Smith Road Denver, CO 80216 Denver, CO. https://samhousedenver.org/donate/