Leona Burke

Leona "Honey" L. Burke, age 91, of Champlin formerly of Willmar, died Thursday afternoon, July 31st, at St. Therese Home in New Hope.
Mass of Christian Burial will be 11 a.m. Monday, August 4, at the Church of St. Mary in Willmar. Interment will be in the church cemetery. Visitation will be 5-7 p.m. Sunday with a 7 p.m. Daughters of Isabella Rosary Service at Peterson Brothers Funeral Home in Willmar and one hour prior to the service at the church.
Leona "Honey" Louisa Burke was born September 29, 1916, in Chicago, Illinois, the daughter of Earl and Clara (Miller) McGreer. In 1919, her family moved to Willmar, where Leona grew up and attended school, graduating from Willmar High School. On June 12, 1935, she married Ralph Burke. She was a member of the Church of St. Mary and was active with the Daughters of Isabella. She was also active with the Brownies, the Birthright and Epilepsy League and the V.F.W. and American Legion Auxiliaries. Following her husband's death in 2004, she moved to the Twin Cities to be near her children.
She is survived by her children, Bernard (and Geneva) Burke of St. Michael, Mary (and Donald) Emberland of Maple Grove and Maureen (and Daniel) Gauer of New Market; eight grandchildren; ten great-grandchildren; a sister, Shiela (and Bill) Duffy of Mashpee, Massachusetts; and other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her husband, Ralph in 2004; an infant son, Jim; an infant daughter, Colleen; a grandson, John Gauer; and a granddaughter, Paula Emberland.