Burk Joella

JoElla "Jo" Burk, 87, of Napoleon, died Monday, June 2, 2008 at the Golden Living Center - Northcrest in Napoleon, Ohio. She was born July 13, 1920 in Holgate, Ohio to the late Claude and Jenny (Clapper) Ruch. On May 5, 1940, she married Martin Burk at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Napoleon. He preceded her in death on April 9, 1990. JoEllawas a member of the St. Paul Lutheran Church in Napoleon. She was a member, president, secretary, and treasurer of St. Paul Mission Society, where she helped with meals and encouraged the development of the Trinity Center. She was Executive Director of the Henry County Chapter of the American Red Cross for seventeen years. During that time she founded the Gray Lady program at Heller Memorial Hospital of Napoleon, which remains active at the Henry County Hospital, and is the only known active group in the U.S. She was a charter member of the Henry County Emergency Medical Service, where she and was secretary forthirteen years; Investigator for the Henry County Human Services Department for seven years;member of the American Legion Auxiliary Post 300 of Napoleon, where she was Secretary, Chaplain, and Membership Chairman; Charter President and Vice President of the Public Employees Retirement Group for Henry County; and member of the Scenic Riverview Group. She also was President of the resident’s council at the Golden Living Center – Northcrest, where she lived the last few years of her life. She is survived by two daughters, Janet "Petey" (Marv) Lanzer of Napoleon, and Cheryl "Cherry" (Lynn) Clymer of Jackson, New Jersey; 5 grandchildren, and 6 great grandchildren. She was also preceded in death by a great granddaughter, Rebecca Lanzer, and brother, Eugene Ruch. Funeral services will be at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Napoleon with Pastor Peter Marcis officiating. Interment will follow at the Glenwood Cemetery in Napoleon, Ohio. Visitation is 2-8 p.m. on Wednesday at the Rodenberger Funeral in Napoleon, and 1 hour prior to the service at the church on Thursday. The family suggests memorial donations to American Red Cross, St. Paul Lutheran Church, or a charity of the donor's choice.

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Burk Joella

June 2, 2008