Gary Palmer Burke aka: Coincrusader

[TKO]

Gary was born Dec. 27, 1942, in Grand Junction, to Granville and Blossom (Palmer) Burke. They lived on 12th Street in Grand Junction, and Gary recalls playing with his brother Stacey on the Mesa Junior College campus across the street. They used the Mavericks’ practice diamond for baseball, played with the football dummies which were usually left out on the grass field overnight, and hit tennis balls on the college courts.

Gary had rheumatic fever at a very young age, and regreted that he could never be the kind of “big brother” Stacey deserved. He tried to make up for it up in later years.

His dad worked at the Rio Grande Railroad, often working back-to-back shifts to provide for his family. Gary’s mother also worked for the Rio Grande Railroad, and later for the Daily Sentinel. As the boys grew up, she had surgery for a brain tumor and later suffered a heart attack which put an end to her working career. He remembered both his mother and father as wonderful people who worked hard and loved him and his brother.

Gary graduated from Grand Junction High School in 1960 and received an associate’s degree from Mesa Junior College in 1962. He continued his education at Western State College, earning his bachelor’s degree in 1964 and his master’s degree in 1967.

He began his teaching career in Fowler where he met and married his wife, Patricia Armstrong, on April 7, 1966. They would have celebrated 44 years of marriage in April.

In 1967 he moved to Delta and for the next 36 years he did his best to make a difference in children’s lives as a teacher and coach at Delta Middle School. He was the first sports editor at the Delta County Independent, and throughout his 41-year career his first priority was making sure each young athlete got the recognition he or she deserved. He always strived to make his articles positive, because he knew he was capturing memories and filling scrapbooks with his stories and photos. He was also the yearbook advisor for many years, and between the yearbook and the newspaper he probably photographed thousands of kids.

Gary retired from teaching in 2000 but continued to write for the DCI until declining health forced him to retire in March 2009.

He was devoted to his children and grandchildren, and was just as proud of his brother, nieces and nephews. He was known as “Papa Goose,” to his grandchildren, a name which he used in his e-mail correspondence.

He was a Yankees fan from a young age, like his father, and Mickey Mantle was a childhood hero. When the Rockies franchise was established, Gary became a season ticket holder and attended as many home openers as he could.

He loved to travel and many of the trips he took with Pat and his family reflected his interest in history and sports. He tried to visit the stadiums in every major city he traveled through.

He collected campaign buttons, stamps and coins, and was a founding member of an Internet forum called the Knights of the Coin Table. Former students will recall his extensive collection of National Geographics, postcards and the autographed photos of politicians and celebrities which lined the walls of his classroom. He tried to bring history alive for every student.

He valued education and was pleased that all three of his children had at least a master’s degree. He never stopped learning himself, and spent hours researching topics of interest on the Internet. He maintained extensive files of his research.

He also enjoyed photography, boating and the fresh air. He had a dry sense of humor and a strong loyalty to his friends.

He was a “Red Baron” who volunteered at the Delta County Memorial Hospital gift shop, which is managed by his wife Pat. He also served on the board of the Delta County Historical Society and volunteered at the museum. He was honored as one of Mesa State College’s Distinguished in 2005 and served on the Mesa State College Alumni Association board.

During his newspaper career he earned a number of awards, including the Colorado High School Coaches Association Media Award in recognition of dedication and distinguished service to the Colorado High School Coaches Association (1997-1998); Colorado Athletic Directors Association award for media coverage of Colorado athletes (1994); the Colorado State Wrestling Media Award (2008); and Sportswriter of the Year from Wrestling USA (1992). In March 1995 he received the Lloyd Gaskill Friend of High School Sports Award.

He is survived by his wife, Patricia Burke of Delta; a son, Michael Burke and his wife Dee, and their children, Alison and Nicholas, all of Grand Junction; a daughter, Michelle Mountfort and her children, Tricia and Daniel, all of Delta, a son, Mitchell Burke and his wife Bonnie, and their child, Christiaan Burke, all of Loveland; a granddaughter, Kaitlyn Calhoon of Castle Rock; and a brother and his wife, Stacey and Claudia Burke of Grand Junction.

He considered Pat’s family his own: Walt Nolting and James Martinez of Alcalde, N.M.; Vic and Darlene Hernandez of Pueblo, Bev and Carl Bierman of Manzanola, and Garry Nolting and Leah Fox of Ordway, as well as numerous nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents and a grandson, Christopher Burke.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Memorial Fund of Mesa State College Foundation, 1450 North 12th, Grand Junction, CO 81501.

View the Internet obituary and sign the online guest registry at taylorfuneralservice.com.