John “Juan” Francisco Burke

John “Juan” Francisco Burke, born April 2, 1930, in Habana, Province of Havana, Cuba, passed away on November 21, 2025, in Kamloops at Royal Inland Hospital. John is survived by his devoted wife of 68 years, Marguerite Rose Burke (née Boyd); his son J. Andrew Burke (Sharon, née Murray); his daughter Colleen F. Burke; and his beloved grandchildren and great-grandchildren, who lovingly called him Papa: Scott and Katherine (née Friesen) with daughters Emma and Brianna Kaitlyn and Mike Mousseau with children Wyatt, Harper, and Jake and Colleen’s son Seth

John was the oldest of five children and is survived by his sisters Elouise, Hilda, and Ruby. He was predeceased by his sister Doris (2007), his mother Edna Mogg (1940), who died from preeclampsia in childbirth, and his father Ivan Burke (1963). He also leaves behind 20 nieces and nephews.

A Journey of Courage and Determination

John’s early life was shaped by resilience, hardship, and deep family loyalty. In 1938, the Burke family fled political instability in Habana and returned to their roots in Yallahs, St. Thomas, Jamaica. They endured hurricanes, typhoons, and the devastating loss of their mother in 1940. During this time, John learned to toughen up quickly and navigate the complex cultural landscape of Jamaica during his formative years.

He and his father farmed their land, tending to abundant crops that supported the family and became well-known in their community. John’s favourite fruits included mangoes, papaya, avocados, oranges, and limes. Their farm also grew bananas, coconut, starfruit, soursop, sugarcane, breadfruit, and hearty staples such as yams, sweet potatoes, and Scotch bonnet peppers. The gardens were filled with hibiscus, bougainvillea, and orchids, brightening the entrance of their Jamaican home.

After their mother’s passing, the children were separated into foster care, but their bond remained unbreakable. Some returned home to farm life; others stayed in care until older. By adulthood, all five siblings were reunited in Canada, where they spoke in their native Patois— sharing jokes, memories, and stories only they truly understood.

John arrived in Canada on December 5, 1953. After surviving one brutal Toronto winter, he headed west with a car full of Jamaican brothers. Housing discrimination made it extremely difficult to find a place to live, and they searched for many days before being welcomed into a house on Barclay Street in Vancouver’s West End.

Following a trip to Jamaica in 1963 for his father’s funeral, John returned to Canada and proudly became a Canadian Citizen on August 24, 1966. He met the love of his life, Marguerite, in the mid-1950s while both were working at Norwesco Window Manufacturing Ltd. in Richmond. She worked as a glass cleaner, and he as a welder.

That modest factory became the beginning of their lifelong partnership. They married in February 1957 and shared nearly seven decades of devotion.

A Working Man, a Builder, a Teacher

John and Marguerite raised their family in Burnaby and East Vancouver, later moving to South Surrey. In 1997, they moved to Westbank, Kelowna. In 2022, they relocated to Orchard Park in Kamloops, where John lived his final years.

He spent his early working years as a welder with Kenworth and Freightliner, helping build the heavy-duty trucks that powered Canada’s highways in the 1960s and 1970s. His hands shaped the steel frames, cabs, and fuel tanks that supported transportation across the country.

He later joined Versatile Burrard Dry Dock in North Vancouver, where he proudly served as a welder and member of Marine Workers & Boilermakers Branch #1. He helped construct and repair ships for the Coast Guard, Navy, and commercial fleets work requiring precision, strength, and craftsmanship.

John eventually founded JB Maintenance, where he completed repairs for the Post Office and took on plumbing, electrical, carpentry, and garage-door work. He could fix absolutely anything, and if he didn’t know how, he figured it out with patience, curiosity, and determination.

To honour him, simply ask:
“How would Dad or Papa do it?”

Community Leadership

John dedicated many years to community service. He served as Cub Leader Bagheera, Scout Master Burke, and Lance Sergeant with the Canadian Army Militia of the West Point Grey Reserves.

He later became President of BC Girls Hockey and President of Killarney Girls Hockey, helping shape the development of girls hockey in British Columbia throughout the 1970s and 1980s.

In 1985, he started a camper-rental business, and in 2007, he ran for Mayor of Kelowna, driven by a desire to strengthen his community. In May 2013, he was formally recognized by the Mayor and Council of West Kelowna for his long-term service as President of the Smith Creek Residents Association.

Wine-Making, Dominoes, and Family Traditions

John enjoyed making wine for many years, often meeting his brother-in-law Bob Boyd in Chase or Kelowna for their annual batches and long afternoons of dominoes. He crafted cases of wine for special occasions, including his granddaughter’s wedding.

He built wooden domino boxes, and anyone who played with him remembers the sharp slap of a tile hitting the table whenever someone took too long. Games were competitive, lively, and always filled with laughter.

He passed those traditions on to the next generation. The great-grandkids loved playing with him; Wyatt and Harper would copy how Papa held his tiles, just as Scott did when he was young.

A Father, Papa, Fisherman, and Keeper of His Four-Legged Friends

John loved cricket, ice hockey, fishing, and being surrounded by his grandchildren.

Some of his happiest memories were the fishing trips he shared with his family:
• A four-hour charter in Campbell River, where he and Andrew brought home four beautiful
salmon
• A legendary 17-pound Gerrard rainbow trout he reeled in on Kootenay Lake at age 80 and it
was announced on the captain’s radio as the biggest catch of the day

He was Colleen’s biggest supporter in sports, tying her skates at every hockey game and cheering from behind the glass. Years later, he watched her win a pickleball gold medal in Kamloops. When she placed the medal over his head, he beamed and wore it proudly all day.

He was rarely seen without a camcorder or camera recording hockey games, weddings, holiday dinners, and the great-grandkids growing up. Long before camcorders, he modified his black Brownie camera, building a battery pack so the flash would recycle faster. He loved capturing moments and preserving family history.

John adored his four-legged companions Tikey, Chi Chi, Toby, Heidi, Jake, and Max. Max was with him for 14 faithful years. In his final days, he was lovingly assured they would greet him at the Rainbow Bridge.

And no matter how he felt, if someone asked how he was, he’d grin and say:
“Another day older.”

One of his most cherished traditions was making a huge pot of Jamaican Rice and Peas during every visit or holiday. His granddaughter Kaitlyn remembers how he taught them to make it, never measuring, always cooking from the heart. He began showing Wyatt how to make it, and Wyatt still says, “It’s not as good as Papa’s.”

No visit ended without his signature fist bump, quietly saying:
“I love you. Be safe.”

A Legacy of Love

John leaves behind a family who will forever remember his stories, his strength, his humour, his love for fishing and sports, his bold opinions, his pride in his heritage, and the joy he felt seeing his kids, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, sisters, extended family, and friends.

“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want…”
“…Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”

Psalm 23

Arrangements entrusted to

Cypress Funeral & Cremation Services 250-554-2324

Condolences may be expressed to the family by phone or email through Cypress Funeral & Cremation Services: