June Juliann Clark Burke, of Portland, died peacefully at the age of 100 on May 6, 2018. She was born November 17, 1917 in Pendleton. She is survived by her sister, Mary Patricia Vernier of Portland. Her sisters, Jean Meinig and Peggy Allison preceded her in death.
June grew up in the Montavilla neighborhood, four miles east of Portland, on the family’s 10 acre farm. She graduated in 1935 from Gresham Union High School and received a scholarship to Oregon State College (now OSU), graduating in 1939 with a degree in Education.
June married in 1943 at Ascension Catholic Church in Portland to USMC Major Delbert Walter Burke, a Marine pilot whom she met in 1939 while both attended Oregon State. In late 1943 while Delbert was stationed in Hawaii, June took a job as a dietician at Ireland’s Restaurant in Portland. A few months later, June received a telegram that Delbert had died in a training mission over the South Pacific.
As June did throughout her life, she persevered. Never feeling sorry for herself or her tragic loss, she furthered her education at OSU, USC and the University of Chicago where she received her MBA in 1946 – a major accomplishment for her generation. She was very driven. Delbert had even quipped in a letter that when he got home from the war he would put his feet up and think of things for her to do. “I want you to be a success”, he wrote.
June worked as an educator and then, for almost 20 years in the food service business, including Stouffers in New York City. She returned to teaching in 1964 as an instructor at David Douglas High School in its Home Economics department. She retired in 1987.
June loved to travel, especially to Ireland to visit relatives in the country where her family roots originated. She loved history, reading, classical music and nourishing her devout Catholic faith. She was a devoted caregiver to her mother, adored her three sisters and made her nieces and nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews feel special by her genuine interest in their lives. As a teacher June touched the lives of hundreds of her students in positive ways. In Delbert’s last letter to June he wrote, “I love you and need you and always will.” We believe they are finally together again.
A Recitation of the Rosary will be held at Ascension Catholic Church on May 11, 2018 at 9:00 a.m., followed by a Funeral Mass at 9:30 a.m.

Donations may be made to Ascension Catholic Church.