Joseph T. Burke, 69, a resident of Mountaintop, passed into eternal life, surrounded by his loving family, on Friday evening, May 27, 2016, at Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center, Plains Township.

His loving wife is Ruth Ann (Mills) Bowden Burke. Joseph and Ruth would have celebrated their 45^th wedding anniversary on October 16^th.

Born on July 21, 1946, in Scranton, Joseph was of six children born to the late Joseph E. and Margaret (Farrell) Burke.

Raised in Scranton, Joseph was a graduate of the former West Scranton High School.

A United States Army veteran, Joseph honorably served his country for three years during the Vietnam War, serving for some time as a Ranger with the 2^nd Infantry.

Joseph was employed for 17 years by the Social Security Administration, Plains Township, retiring from there. Prior to that, he was employed for 14 years by Luzerne Products.

A man of deep faith, Joseph was an active and faithful member of the Westmoor Church of Christ, Kingston, where he served as a deacon.

Joseph was a member of the Fidelity Lodge No. 655, Free & Accepted Masons, Wilkes-Barre. Additionally, he was a member of the American Legion, Post 781, Mountaintop.

A man of many enjoyments, Joseph especially enjoyed going on cruises with his wife, and rooting on his favorite football team, the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Above all, Joseph will be most remembered by his great love and devotion for his loving wife, daughter, son-in-law and extended family.

In addition to his parents, Joseph and Margaret Burke, Joseph was preceded in death by his brothers, Ronald and Donald Burke; and his sister, Margaret “Peggy” Ostrowski.

In addition to his wife, Ruth, Joseph is survived by his daughter, Kimberly Vikara and her husband, Joseph, Nanticoke; his sisters, Judith Fuller and Deborah Burke, both of Scranton; his sister-in-law, Cindy Burke, Archbald; his brother-in-law, Daniel Mills and his wife, Carol, Larksville; and his numerous nieces and nephews.

Relatives and Friends are respectfully invited to attend Joseph’s funeral service which will be celebrated on Wednesday, June 01, 2016 at 10:30 AM at the Wroblewski Funeral Home, Inc., 1442 Wyoming Avenue, Forty Fort, with the Reverend James Quinn, officiating.

Interment will follow in Chapel Lawn Memorial Park, Dallas, where Military Honors will be accorded by the United States Army.

Family and Friends are invited to call on Tuesday, May 31, 2016, from 4:00 to 8:00 PM, and again on Wednesday morning, from 9:30 AM until the time of the funeral service, at the funeral home.

The members of the Fidelity Lodge No. 655, Free & Accepted Masons, will hold a Masonic Service on Tuesday at 7:30 PM.

For additional information or to send the Burke Family an online message of condolence, you may visit the funeral home web-site www.wroblewskifuneralhome.com.

The family would be honored if you would consider making a memorial contribution in Joseph’s memory to Westmoor Church of Christ, 57 South Goodwin Avenue, Kingston, PA 18704 or Fallen Officers Remembered, P.O. Box 2299, Wilkes-Barre, PA 18703.