Marcella "Sally" Burke

Marcella “Sally” Evelyn Burke entered into eternal life on Saturday, September 27, 2025, at Maggie's House in DeWitt, Iowa. 

Visitation will be Wednesday, October 1, 2025, at St. Joseph Catholic Church, DeWitt, from 2:30 p.m. until 6:00 p.m., beginning with the Rosary at 2:00 p.m. Funeral Mass will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, October 2, 2025, in the church, with burial following at St. Patrick Cemetery, Villa Nova.

Marcella Evelyn Burke was born October 23, 1929, to Emil and Grace (Dierickx) Grell in Clinton County, Iowa.  She married Eugene “Gene” Burke on January 10, 1950, in Sts. Philip and James Catholic Church, Grand Mound. Sally graduated from Grand Mound High School and began working at Iowa Mutual.  Once married, Sally stayed home to raise their family.  Gene and Sally farmed in rural Charlotte for 33 years. Then they moved to DeWitt and Sally started working in the deli at Barnes Foodland.

Sally volunteered as a member of the Altar and Rosary, the Guild, and CI-ED. She also enjoyed taking communion to shut-ins, visiting the elderly, and helping second grade students learn their prayers. Sally's hobbies were ceramics, crocheting prayer shawls, and playing cards with family and friends. 

One of the many ways Sally shared her love was to create a scrapbook and crochet a blanket for each of her grandchildren.  The scrapbook consisted of photos from birth through high school and the blanket was crocheted out of yarn chosen by each grandchild.  Sally presented them to each grandchild when they graduated from high school.

Sally was a loving and dedicated wife, mother, mother-in-law, grandmother, and great grandmother.  Sally attended daily Mass, enjoyed playing cards, and Friday night dinner with friends.  Sally set a great example for her family and friends.

Those left to honor her memory include her children: Gary (Beth), DeWitt; Tom (Becky), Charlotte; Joanne (Randy) Burmester, Saratoga Springs, NY; Diane Mangan, DeWitt; Joe (Jennifer), DeWitt; Phil (Diane), Charlotte; Mary (Philip) Bousselot, DeWitt; Paul (Nancy), Clinton; Sarah (Paul) Patterson, Green Bay, WI; Pat (Lori), Lorton, VA; 26 grandchildren: Maggie (Larry) Busta, Eileen (Kyle) Gerard, and Will (Brooke); Jeremy (Rachel), Emily (Jamie) Cleveland, and Zachary (Kelly); Holly (Mark) Fedorcik, Amy (Brandon) Graham, and Jared Burmester; Wesley Mangan, and Colin Mangan; Jordan (Kait), Taylor (Aleasha), and Scott (Kelli); Amber (Kerry) Burzlaff, Adam (Dolly), and Anthony (Stephanie); Derek (Hillary) Mosier, Mitchell (fiancée Janina) Mosier, and Grace Mosier; Gina (Zach) Schladetzky, Ryan Patterson, and Anna Patterson; Travis, Seth (Chelsea Davis), and Colby (Bethany); 44 great-grandchildren: Erin, Rosalie, Burke, and Hugo Busta; Kayla, Blake, Lane, and Hailey Gerard; Abigail, Zoey, and Carter;  Avery, Levi, and Abe Cleveland; Clara, Nolan, and Declan; Palmer and Sawyer Fedorcik; Jaxon Graham; Gabriel, William, and Grayson Mangan; Adrian and Isaac; Myles, Maverick, Everett, Kohen, and Charlotte; Kinsley and Kennedy; Kade, Kallie, and Keaton Burzlaff; Graham, and Calvin; Brooks, and Harper; Macy, and Crew Mosier; Zita, and Zoey Schladetzky; Salem von Essen. Also surviving are two brothers-in-law, Al Burke and Ed (Arlene) Burke, and a sister-in-law, Frances Burke, as well as numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.

She was preceded in death by her husband Gene, son Ronald W. Burke, her parents, and siblings, Melanie, Marian, Marcellus, and Jane.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Joseph School, DeWitt, or St. Patrick’s Villa Nova Cemetery Association.

Arrangements are in the care of Schultz Funeral Home, DeWitt. Condolences may be expressed at www.schultzfuneralhomes.com

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