Obituary of Joan Bourke

Joan M. Bourke, 79, of Cambridge passed away on Sunday, December 22, 2013 at Auburn Meadows in Waconia. She was born on June 23, 1934 in Minneapolis, MN to Herbert and Lillian (Marquardt) Koeller. Joan grew up in Northeast Minneapolis where she attended school. On November 14, 1959 she was united in marriage to Charles Bourke. They lived in Blaine and Bloomington before moving to Cambridge in 1967. They bought a farm house and raised their four children Richard, Thomas, Curtis and Deborah. Joan worked at Cambridge Memorial Hospital and retired from the Cambridge State Hospital after 15 years. Joan and Charles spent much of their summer time at the cabin on Mille Lacs Lake in Garrison. She was a member of Salem Lutheran Church in Dalbo. Joan also worked with The Refuge in Cambridge and had over 30 foster children through the years. Joan enjoyed shopping, cooking for her family, gardening and dancing. She especially loved the time spent with her grandchildren. Joan was preceded in death by her parents, husband Charles in March 2000, stepson Thomas Bourke, sister June Pape and brother Herbert Koeller. She is survived by her sons Rick Bourke of Cambridge, Curt and wife Pat Bourke of Cambridge, daughter Debi and husband Duggan Kelly of Chaska, 10 grandchildren, 15 great grandchildren, sister Shirley Caldwell of Arizona, as well as numerous nieces, nephews other relatives and friends.