Resident Spotlight: Terry Burke 

PROUD TO BE AN IRISHMAN

“I’m 50 percent Irish,” proudly proclaims Terry Burke. Like many European Americans, Terry’s ancestry is rooted in Ireland; his father and paternal grandparents were 100% Irish. Also, according to genealogy research, the name Burke is associated with nobility in 12th century Ireland, so Terry has reason to be proud.

Terry was born in 1928 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, at the beginning of the Great Depression. His brother joined the family six years later. Terry started kindergarten at age four and remembers a happy childhood, spending a great deal of time on his grandparent’s farm. This farm also provided a good food source for the family during the Depression years. The one hardship Terry recalls is that between his first and eighth grades of school, his parents moved to eight different cities in Iowa due to his father’s employment in the hotel business. However, for his high school years, Terry attended Immaculate Conception in Cedar Rapids. During high school, Terry did not get involved with many school activities. Rather, he concentrated on being a good student and working as a caddy on the golf course, having learned this job at age 12! He “felt” rich earning 65 cents each time he caddied. Terry admits, “I finally found a game I could play.” 

Terry completed high school requirements early by attending classes in the summer. He immediately joined the Army and spent the next 18 months (1946-47) in El Paso, Texas. Three months into his service, the war ended. Terry says he was able to play and improve his golf game during this time – enough that he played for the base championship, but he lost to the Colonel!

Leaving the Army, Terry enrolled in Loras College, a Catholic private school in Dubuque, Iowa, majoring in Accounting. On week-ends he would hitch-hike to home and then “hitch” back to school on Sunday afternoon. After two years, Terry transferred to the University of Iowa in Iowa City and completed requirements for a B.S. in Business Administration, graduating in 1951.

Terry’s first employment was with Neilson Marketing Service. He spent six months in Chicago in orientation, followed by another six months in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He was assigned to the Drug and Food Division and chose Memphis, Tennessee, as his home base, a position he held for 22 years. The job involved a lot of travel as he gathered statistical data for the Neilson reports. This was great for his bachelor lifestyle.

That bachelor lifestyle would come to an end when he began to pay special attention to a beautiful red-headed widow he kept seeing at various social gatherings. Her name was Barbara Espy, and she had two children– Donna, age 11 and Michael, age 4. Terry and Barbara began a courtship and married in 1968. Together, they would have a son, Patrick. Terry says his life-style changed dramatically, but the relationship between him and his step-children was great. “They both were very loving and accepting of me,” admits Terry. Unfortunately, both Donna and Michael died prematurely of heart disease.

However, in the early years, because of financial need, Terry thought he needed to find a way to increase the family income. He first tried a restaurant, but it was a failure. He then started a dry cleaning business, Kirby Parkway Cleaners, which offered many challenges and was near failure when a friend advised Terry and encouraged him with suggestions. Fortunately, with adjustments, and with family members as staff, the business succeeded and provided a good income for the next 40 years! Terry retired from the business in 2017.

The Burke’s were able to travel extensively, even prior to retirement. “Since it was a family business, Barbara and I felt comfortable taking time away; leaving everything in competent hands,” remembers Terry. One of their more memorable trips included a submarine ride that took them down 100 feet. “It was unbelievably beautiful to see the creatures of the deep,” states Terry. However, their most memorable trip was being in New York City and, on their last night there, dining in a restaurant under the Brooklyn Bridge. That was on September 10, 2001. The next day, not knowing about the events that occurred earlier that day, they packed to leave but were, of course, unable to leave New York. Terry and Barbara walked to 42nd and 5th streets and witnessed the destruction of the twin towers amid the smoke and dust. They happened to stand next to a gentleman who was very distraught. “My father was on the 32nd floor of that building,” cried the man. “I was at a loss for words,” admits Terry. “And, it was certainly something I will never forget.”

When Barbara began to have falls and memory problems, Terry realized he would need to find a suitable place for her care. With their son’s suggestion, they investigated Kirby Pines and made the decision to move here in 2021. A short time later, it was necessary to move Barbara to the Manor. Sadly, she died in 2023. Terry says, “She had good care there.”

Terry loves to read and enjoys the weekly visits with son, Patrick. He has three grandchildren who are also close by. He is a member of St. Louis Catholic Church and attends the weekly Catholic service at Kirby Pines. He also takes advantage of the exercise and yoga classes offered here. “We made the right choice to move here,” states Terry. “I am happy!”

Written by Joan Dodson, Resident of Kirby Pines.