Obituary of Allen Joseph Burke

Allen Joseph Burke passed away Wednesday, November 16, 2005 in Kerrville, Texas at the age of 76 years. Our beloved husband, father, grandfather and friend was born on November 20, 1928 in Houston, Texas to Aline and Frank Burke. He attended Immaculate Conception Catholic Church School and later attended and graduated from Milby High School in 1947. After high school, he went to work at Ford, Bacon & Davis Construction in Texas City. Allen then joined the U. S. Navy in 1948 and participated in the Korean War at the invasion of Inchon on September 15, 1951. After his Korean service, he returned home Christmas Day where he first met his future bride, Louise Kolaski, with whom he had corresponded with for 18 months. They dated for two weeks before he returned to duty in San Diego where he was assigned to a minesweeper bound for Charleston, South Carolina. Allen and Louise were married on June 22, 1952 at St. John’s Cathedral in the Bishops’ private chapel in Charleston. After completing his duty, he was honorably discharged on October 14, 1952. The happy couple returned to Houston, TX where he applied for police cadet school. He worked for the city water department until an opening was available in the next class. He started in the police academy class number 9 in February, 1953 and graduated in May of that year. He worked in Radio patrol, vice squad, narcotics, numerous other assignments and as a motorcycle officer for a total of 26 years of service. During that time, “A.J.” Burke was elected and served as the President of the Houston Police Officers Association for 5 years, working closely with State Legislators on laws supporting law enforcement officers. He was then elected President of the Texas Municipal Police Association for 2 years, a first for that organization. A.J. retired from the Houston Police Department in 1978 and subsequently was appointed by Houston Mayor Jim McConn as the first chief of the Houston Parks Police. He retired as Chief of Houston Parks Police in 1982 and went to work for Cimarron companies and ranches as Chief of Security. While chief of security for Cimarron ranch, he and Louise moved to Marble Falls, TX where he oversaw the ranch operations. While in Marble Falls, he also was named as Captain of the auxiliary police officers for the city. He “officially” retired and moved to Ingram, TX in 1994. A.J. was a member of the Notre Dame Catholic Church in Kerrville, TX. He was also a 3rd degree Knights of Columbus member in Council #6409 in Kerrville. A.J. remained a member of the Houston Police Retired Officers Association until his time of passing. He was preceded in death by father Frank Burke, mother Aline Burke, and brother Donald Burke and his wife, Jackie. He is survived by wife Louise Burke, son Daniel Burke and his wife Malinda, daughter Angele Meyer and her husband Gray, grandson Christopher Burke and his wife Jean, great-grandson Vaughn Burke, sister-in-law Pat Bailess and her husband Bo, sisters-in-law, Barbara Kolaski and Jean Kolaski, numerous cousins, nieces and nephews, other relatives and a host of friends. In lieu of usual remembrances memorials are requested to be made to the Family Assistance Committee of the Houston Police Retired Officer’s Association, P. O. Box 2288, Houston, TX 77252-2288.