Corporal Jarek Burke

Monday, October 10, 2016 5:35 pm

Corporal Jarek Burke, 22, of Camp Lejeune, N.C., formerly of Cresco, passed away unexpectedly Oct. 3, 2016, from injuries sustained in a motor vehicle accident. Friends may greet the family from 3 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 13, at the Lindstrom Funeral Home in Cresco. A graveside service is Friday, Oct. 14, at 11 a.m. at the Calvary Cemetery in Cresco.

Jarek Brad-Alan Burke was born March 6, 1994, in Cresco, to Brad Burke and Nicole (Leigh) Watson. He attended and graduated from Crestwood High School in 2012. After graduation he joined the United States Marine Corp in January 2013 and was a field artillery/cannoneer crewman. During this time, he was briefly married to Jennifer Tweedt. He was dedicated to achieve his dream of becoming a Marine through self-determination and hard work. His personality shined throughout his journey and he never gave up on his dream. He was never afraid to give a helping hand or a lending ear. Loyalty meant the world to him and if you were a friend, he was a friend for life. His fun-loving personality always showed through during his Marine career, as he was the one that would give five random hugs a day. He has made numerous friends during his career that he cherished and that he considered his brothers, sisters and family. He looked forward to the future with the love of his life, Rachel DeCarlo. He found a best friend and soul mate in her that will live on forever in her heart. In December he would have fulfilled his active duty commitment to the Marine Corp, and was moving to Georgia to be with the love of his life, and was looking forward to attend college to build a life with her. He had multiple promising job offers and was excited to interview with a nationally recognized gym for a management position. While back in Iowa, he loved spending time with family and friends and made the most of every minute he had with all. Jarek was looked up to by his siblings, nephews, friends and his parents. He was a role model to all. His motto was “Live Life Hard.” And he lived every moment to the fullest and taught others how to as well.

He is survived by his best friend and the love of his life, Rachel DeCarlo; his parents, Brad (Jen) Burke and Nicole and the late (George) Watson; siblings: Ashley Henry, Madison Burke, Haleigh McCalley, Chase Burke, and Liza Burke; grandparents: Carolyn (Wade) Tusler of Osage; Ret. 1SG Danny (Cindy) Leigh of Massachusetts; Don (Fran) Burke of Cresco; Robert (Mary) Schatz of Lime Springs; Shirley Schatz of Lime Springs; great-grandparents, Marilyn (Gary) Mork of Mitchell; aunts: Brandy (Ret. 1SG Raul) Trujillo, Cynara (CW2 Ben) Ciraulo, Brenda Burke (Mwaura Muiuri), Laurie Burke; uncles: Quentin (Melissa) Leigh, Erik Davenport, SGT Logan Tusler, Mark (Becky) Burke, Scott Burke; and many cousins.

He was preceded in death by George Watson III (step-father); Ronald Murphy (maternal great-grandfather); Carol Loveland (maternal great-grandmother); Robert Leigh (maternal great-grandfather), Guy and Dorothy VandeWeerd (fraternal great-grandparents); Brent Burke (fraternal uncle).