James "Jim" Fowler Burke

Jim was born in Philadelphia, PA --- a fitting beginning for someone with a lifelong fascination with history, particularly American history. His parents, Katherine Rose Tartaro and James Anthony Burke, created the perfect Italian-Irish blend. Jim determined at a very young age that he wanted to be a United States Marine. He did so, volunteering in 1968 for duty and serving honorably in Vietnam with the 5th Marines/7th Comm Battalion as a radio relay operator. After returning home to the suburbs of Washington D.C., Jim attended Montgomery College and University of Maryland, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in History in 1981. He met his wife Emily in 1976. When they married in 1978, he became an instant father of three young children. Over the 44 years to come, he and Emily provided examples for them of the values of hard work, determination, reliability, love of learning, and love of family. Jim was a role model and mentor for numerous other young people through his work with the Young Marines youth program at the local, state, and national levels. His love for the USMC was lifelong, and he was a member of the Arthur Meyer Detachment of the Marine Corps League and Military Order of the Devil Dogs in Tallahassee. He had a 25-year career with the Florida Department of State, Division of Archives and Records Management,where he formed many valued friendships.

Jim is survived by his devoted wife Emily; daughters Jessie Barousse (Pat) and Molly Pasco-Pranger (Chris); son Nathan Pasco (Janae); and grandchildren Sadie, Asa, Jackzon and Walter. He is also survived by nieces Cynthia Melvin Ballard and Mary Katherine Melvin Weltzien, and by nephew Edward “Buster” Melvin, all children of Jim’s late sister, Cynthia Patricia Burke Melvin.

A Honors Service will be held on November 10, 2022 at 11:00AM, EST at Tallahassee National Cemetery. Following the service, The Burke family would like to invite all guests to a memorial gathering and catered lunch which will begin at 12:00PM at Culley's MeadowWood Funeral Home, 1737 Riggins Rd, Tallahassee, FL 32308.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.CulleysMeadowWood.com for the Burke family.