John D. Bourke

John D. Bourke

• Father: Emery Irl Bourke b. 24 February 1887, d. 18 March 1950
• Mother: Ida Kempe b. 8 April 1893, d. 21 November 1972

• John D. Bourke was born on 9 November 1915 in Williamson County, Texas.
• Emery Irl Bourke and Ida Kempe appeared in the US federal census of 1 April 1930 in Fort Worth, Tarrant County, Texas, at 2817 San Fiam??ca Street. Other members of the household included John D. Bourke, Vivian Frances Bourke.
• The following appeared on 24 November 1972 in The Odessa American: (San Saba): Funeral services were set for 2 p.m. Friday in the Howell-Doran Funeral Home Chapel for Mrs. Ida K. Bourke, 79, who died Tuesday in a San Antonio hospital after an illness.
       Burial was to be in the San Saba City Cemetery.
       Born April 8, 1893, in Travis County, Mrs. Bourke married Emery Bourke in 1909 in Austin. She had resided in San Saba County most of her life. She was a Baptist.
       Survivors include four sons, Raymond Bourke and Jack Bourke, both of San Saba, John Bourke of Midland and Menzie Bourke of Odessa; a brother, Frank Kempe of Fort Worth; two sisters, Mrs. Elfreda Ward and Mrs. Frances Clinkscales, both of Austin; 13 grandchildren; and 10 great grandchildren.
• John D. Bourke died on 16 August 2004 at age 88 in Montgomery, Montgomery County, Texas.
• He was interred at Richland Springs Cemetery, Richland Springs, San Saba County, Texas.
• The following appeared on 18 August 2004 in the Midland Reporter-Telegram: John (Johnny) Bourke, retired Deputy Fire Chief of Midland, Texas passed away on the 16th day of August, 2004 at his home in Montgomery, Texas. He was born November 9, 1915 in Williamson County, Texas to Emery Irl Bourke and Ida Kempe Bourke. He married the love of his life, Nettie Lucile Myers on October 22, 1938 in San Saba, Texas and she was with him at his passing.
       John is survived by his wife, Lucile, and family, Sylvia and Don Bass of Montgomery, Dennis and Barbara Bourke, of Midland, Lanell and Murry Stehle of Del Rio, Jack and Mary Bourke of Plano, and Brenda and Keith Howell of Arlington, brothers, Menzie Bourke of Odessa and Raymond Bourke of San Saba. He was a proud and loving grandparent to 10 grandchildren and numerous great grandchildren.
       His parents, his sister, Vivian Francis Russell, his brother, Jack Olen Bourke, and one grandson, Jonathan Andrew Stehle, predeceased John.
       John and Lucy first came to Midland in 1941. He began working for the civil service as a firefighter at Midland Air Field during WWII. After a short time as a volunteer firefighter, he joined the Midland Fire Department and served as fireman, Captain, and Assistant Fire Chief before becoming Deputy Fire Chief, where he served until his retirement in 1978. He was instrumental in developing fire-fighting techniques for oil and structure fires, as well as training the men under his command. For several years in the late 1940's and 1950's he taught at the Fire School at Texas A & M. He led the fire department to become the modern, structured organization it is today.
       Family visitation will be from 6:00 P.M. until 8:00 P. M. on Wednesday, the 18 th day of August at Howell Doran Funeral Home in San Saba. Graveside services will be held in Richland Springs, Texas, at the Richland Springs cemetery at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, August 19, 2004. Viewing will take place in San Saba, Texas, at the Howell - Doran funeral home on Wednesday.
       The family requests memorials be directed to the Midland Citizens Fire Academy Alumni Association.
       Funeral services under direction of the Howell-Doran Funeral Home, 1901 West Wallace, San Saba, TX, 76877.
• Source: Information on Ida Alwine Menzer and her her origins from Nancy Sinclair (May 2010), and "Bourke and Bass Families of Texas" by Sylvia Ann Bass (Genealogy.com FTM Online, April 2009).

• Last Edited: 14 Oct 2011