Myrtle “Nadine” Burke, 89, of Overland Park, Kansas died Friday, October 14, 2016. She was born July 19, 1927, in Colby, Kansas, the daughter of Galveston Leroy Taylor and Erva Irene (Morton) Taylor. Nadine attended Colby public schools and graduated from Colby High School. After a short career as an office assistant, she married Jess Eugene Lee, Jr. and two sons were born to them, Terrence Jess Lee and Gary Eugene Lee.
After her sons were grown Nadine moved to Denver and returned to college, where she earned a degree in Radiology Technology. She worked for many years as an apartment manager in Denver. She loved Denver and her job; it was there that she met some very special friends and married Tom Burke. Following her retirement, she moved to Overland Park, Kansas to be closer to her sons’ families, whom she deeply loved. She also loved tea with honey, cherry mash candy bars and great books. She was an intellectual woman with a constant desire to learn. When personal computers became available she fell in love with computers, ipads, and all things electronic. She faithfully watched the game show Jeopardy and no doubt could have won as she was quicker than most with the correct questions. Those interests kept her sharp mind well honed.
Nadine learned the game of Bridge as a young adult and became a master player. She belonged to bridge clubs in Oakley, Denver and in Overland Park. Scrabble was her other game. She studied and maintained mental lists of 8 letter words, words containing the letters Z and Q, and unusual words. She always knew the definition. If challenged, she would confidently say: “look it up,” and win the challenge. More than one unsuspecting soul sat down to the scrabble board hoping for the bragging rights of beating Nadine but she owned that game and her prowess was incredible. She did, however, object when speed scrabble was suggested! These memories are precious to us now; they will keep her close in our minds and heart. That will help us miss her a little bit less.
Following the death of his wife (Nadine’s sister), Joe Kucharek moved from Denver to Overland Park. Always good friends, they enjoyed living closer once again. Joe learned to play Bridge, and they fared well as partners in the bridge games at Overland Towers. As Nadine’s health declined Joe helped her in daily tasks necessary to remain at home in her apartment. She preferred his cooking over all others’. He was her last best friend!
Nadine was preceded in death by her parents; her sister, Natalie Kucharek and husbands, Jess Lee, Jr. and Thomas Burke. She is survived by her brother-in-law, Joe Kucharek; two sons, Terry Lee (Diane), Overland Park, Kansas and Gary Lee (Marsha), Salina, Kansas; six grandchildren, Ethan Thompson-Lee, Jessica Thompson-Lee, Darin Lee, Barbra (Lee) Bartz, Derek Lee and Crystal (Lee) Kipp; and eleven great grandchildren, Grace Lee, Couper Shutts, Sarah Bartz, Jolie Bartz, Emily Bartz, Geoffrey Bartz, Keeton Lee, Elleson Lee, Abigail Kipp, Annabel Kipp and Caleb Kipp.
A celebration of her life will be held 2 pm, Saturday, November 5, 2016, with visitation one hour prior at McGilley & Hoge Memorial Chapel, 8024 Santa Fe Drive, Overland Park, Ks. 66204. In lieu of flowers the family suggests donations to Alphapointe Association for the Blind, in care of the funeral home. Online condolences may be left at www.mcgilleyhoge.com.
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