James "Butch" Lyle Rourke

James Lyle Rourke (“Butch”) was born on May 21, 1925, in Callaway Nebraska. He was raised in Callaway along with his brother Walt and his sister Lavonne. On his 18th birthday, Butch joined the Navy to serve his country for World War II. Butch served as a Gunners Mate on the famous Naval Ship, USS The Sullivans DD537.

After the war, he remained in the Naval Reserves and attended college at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. While in college, he was called to serve his country again, for the Korean War. He served in the Korean War from approximately 1951 to 1953 onboard the USS Gurke DD783. At the time he was honorably discharged from the Navy in 1955, he had obtained the rank of Gunners Mate First Class.

After completing his military service, Butch commenced employment with the Federal Bureau of Reclamation as a Civil Engineer. He initially worked for the Bureau in Nebraska. In 1965, he was transferred to the Denver, Colorado office, where he worked until his retirement in 1983.

In 1961, while working for the Bureau, Jim met the love of his life, Laurentia Josephine Murphy. They were soon married, and had one son, James K. (“Jim Bob”) Rourke, born in 1962. Jim Bob still lives in the Denver metro area and is employed as a Project Manager for Cigna. Sadly, Laurentia passed away on December 16, 1991.

While attending a Callaway High School reunion in June of 1992, Butch got re-acquainted with a former classmate, Barbara Schuster Magruder. Barbara also lived in the Denver metro area. They became a couple and were together until Barbara’s death in 2004. Barbara’s two children, Greg Magruder and Michelle Magruder, both of Denver, were blessed to have Butch continue to be an important part of their lives after their mother’s death.

Butch was a wonderful person who was liked and respected by all who knew him. He was a war hero. He was a loving husband and father, and a friend to all. He was honest, kind, generous and had a fun sense of humor. His stories about his past life experiences were always entertaining.

Butch passed away on August 5, 2018. He will be greatly missed. Funeral services are scheduled for August 15, 2018, at 12:00 noon at Advantage Funeral Services, 6425 West Alameda Avenue, Lakewood, Colorado, with formal military honors to commence at Fort Logan National Cemetery at 2:00 p.m.