Wilma Burke

Wilma Catherine Burke was born in Beloit, KS on December 12th, 1958 to L. Ray and Esther Clark. Wilma was the tenth of twelve children born to this union. She passed away on February 29th, 2024 at the Mitchell County Hospital.

Wilma grew up in Beloit, KS, and attended St. John's Catholic School and Beloit Junior Senior High School. She went on to obtain her nursing degree and graduated with an associate's degree. She worked as a Registered Nurse for many years.

Wilma had two children, Michelle and Jessica. She married Ralph Keener on October 31st, 1981. Her daughter Michelle was born to this union. She married Alan Burke on April, 8th, 1988. Her daughter Jessica was born to this union. Wilma earned a title she was very proud of in 2009. She became "Nana" when her first grandchild, Rakeyah was born. Her second grandchild, Brooklyn, was born in 2013, and her third grandchild, Jakobi, was born in 2015. Wilma was so proud of her grandkids and enjoyed spending time with them.

Wilma had a love for music and spent lots of time listening to one of her favorite artists, P!nk. She enjoyed baking and cooking. She also enjoyed gambling and made many trips to the casino in her lifetime. She was very close with her siblings and enjoyed spending time with them. Together they played cards, visited, and shared lots of laughs. Wilma's sister Alice described her as "a loving sister, good with her nieces and nephews". Alice said she had a good sense of humor and made her laugh. Wilma loved to laugh and tried to find the humor in every situation. Her humor will be missed along with her kind heart and easy-going personality.

Wilma was preceded in death by her parents, L. Ray and Esther Clark, her brother Calvin and his wife Ann Clark, her brothers, Wade and Mark Clark, her nephews, Steven Porter, Michael, and Nicholas Clark, and her mother-in-law Louise Burke. She is survived by her husband Alan Burke, of Salina, her sisters Kathy (Cal) Grandy and Alice (Jerry) Derfler, of Topeka, her brothers Mike "Click" (Debi) Clark and Ron Clark, her sister Cass Clark, and sister-in-law Nancy Clark all of Beloit, her brother Rick Clark of Minnesota, her sister Lola (George) Porter, and her brother Larry Clark, all of Minneapolis, her daughters Michelle Keener and Jessica Burke of Salina, her grandkids, Rakeyah, Brooklyn, and Jakobi. Her father-in-law, Clifford Burke of Ottawa, sister-in-law Janean (Yorton) Clark, of Spring Hill, brother-in-law Lary (Jennifer) Burke of Kansas City, and a host of nieces, nephews, extended family and friends.

Funeral services will be at 10 AM Wednesday, March 6 at the Roberts Family Funeral Home. Visitation will be from 1-7 PM, with family present from 5-6 PM Tuesday at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to the Funeral Expense Fund.