Maxine Ryan Burke, 89, Vero Beach
Maxine Ryan Burke, 89, of Vero Beach, passed away peacefully in her home Aug. 22, 2018. She was surrounded by family and looking out on the garden she loved.
Maxine was born in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada, and graduated from the Shaunavon High School. She worked for several engineering firms in Windsor, Canada.
Shortly after marrying her husband, John D. Burke in 1957, they moved to Detroit, Mich., and became US citizens. Their three children were born in Detroit, and the young family moved to Geneva, Switzerland, where they lived for three years.
Skiing was their second nature, and the family spent many days in the Swiss and French Alps. A job transfer took the family to Mexico City, Mexico, where she developed her taste for a good margarita. After four years in Mexico, the family moved back to the United States.
They lived in St. Louis, Miss.; Birmingham, Mich., and Syracuse, N.Y. Maxine became a resident of Vero Beach 15 years ago.
A lifelong avid sportswoman, Maxine competed in curling, basketball, speed skating, and was a Province champion in discus throwing. She was a competitive skier well into her 70s, skiing all over the world and finished 2nd in the country for her age in a US NASTAR ski competition.
While in Florida, she enjoyed golf and gardening and daily treks to the dog park. She was a child advocate volunteer for Guardian ad Litem in Indian River County.
Survivors include her children, John Daniel Burke, Jr. (wife, Diane), of Rumson, N.J., and Linda Burke Roberts (husband, Ron), of Vero Beach, and Gregory Clive Burke, of Virginia; grandchildren, Connor Daniel Burke and Laura Marie Burke, Colin Ross Roberts, Quinton Ryan Roberts, Cameron Burke Roberts and Olivia Mae Roberts; her sister, Sandra (McDonald) Giasson; and so many loving friends and family around the world.
She was preceded in death by her husband, John Daniel Burke; and granddaughter, Lesley Caroline Burke.
She would love memorial donations to go to McKee Botanical Gardens, VNA and Hospice foundation, or Guardian ad Litem.
A celebration of her life memorial is planned for Nov. 17, in her beautiful garden.