Obituary for Jack Theodore "Mannie" Burke Sr.
JACK (Mannie) THEODORE BURKE SENIOR, 97, departed for Heaven April 17, 2021, while a
patient at the UPMC Harrisburg Hospital. He was born January 24, 1924, in Mercersburg, PA; the son
of John (Pete) Edward Burke and Mary Rebecca (Watson) Burke.
Jack attended school in Mercersburg, PA. He was a member of one of the better Negro League
traveling baseball teams of that time and was known to hit the ball a mile. During World War II Jack
was working at the Leonard Canning Company in Chambersburg, PA until he was drafted into the U.S.
Navy. He was posted to the Navy Supply Depot in Oakland, CA after completing job training in San
Diego, CA until his honorable discharge on March 7, 1943.
When Jack returned to Mercersburg, PA he began work at Letterkenny Army Depot. Several years
later he met and dated the love of his life, Sarah (Teen) Katherine Nocho. They married the spring of
1949. Jack and Sarah started their married life in Mercersburg, PA and later purchased a home in
Sarah’s home town of Shippensburg, PA. They were blessed with the birth of one daughter Traci
Vanessa Burke and four sons, Gregory Allen Burke (Donna) of Las Vegas, NV; Jack (Ted) Theodore
Burke Jr., (Dianna) of Harrisburg, PA; Lance Nocho Burke, (Tenisha} of York, PA; and Randy Lynn
Burke of Harrisburg, PA who is now deceased (Mellisa Parker).
Jack and Sarah separated after 16 years of marriage. Soon after, Jack retired with 36 years of federal
government service and remained in Shippensburg, PA until he moved to Harrisburg, PA where he
became his daughter’s roommate. They became active members of the original Penn Street AME
Church in Shippensburg, PA until his health declined. His daughter became his full time caregiver until
2017. Florence (Flo) Rittle came into their lives at that time and began to care for Jack two hours a
day Monday thru Friday. Flo and Jack became great friends and spent many hours sharing their
previous and current life experiences. Their voices and laughter would ring throughout Jack and Traci’s
apartment. This continued until Jack's untimely illness in April.
In addition to Jack’s daughter and three sons, left to bereave his passing are his two sisters, Mary
Louise (Dolly) Reidout of Kutztown, PA and Vicki Kieffer husband (Lester) of Mercersburg, PA, one
sister-in-law Constance L. Burke of Williamstown, NJ, several grandchildren, one great grandchild and
a host of nieces and nephews.
In addition to his parents, his beloved Teen and his youngest son Randy, Jack was predeceased by
sisters Dorothy Gates (Leon) and Roberta Lynch (Charles) and brothers Warren M. Burke (Elizabeth),
John W. Burke and three infant siblings Joe Louis Burke, Geneviene Burke and Betty Jane Burke, and
brother-in-law Albert E. Reidout.
Jack will be interred at the Locust Grove Cemetery, following a private graveside service.
patient at the UPMC Harrisburg Hospital. He was born January 24, 1924, in Mercersburg, PA; the son
of John (Pete) Edward Burke and Mary Rebecca (Watson) Burke.
Jack attended school in Mercersburg, PA. He was a member of one of the better Negro League
traveling baseball teams of that time and was known to hit the ball a mile. During World War II Jack
was working at the Leonard Canning Company in Chambersburg, PA until he was drafted into the U.S.
Navy. He was posted to the Navy Supply Depot in Oakland, CA after completing job training in San
Diego, CA until his honorable discharge on March 7, 1943.
When Jack returned to Mercersburg, PA he began work at Letterkenny Army Depot. Several years
later he met and dated the love of his life, Sarah (Teen) Katherine Nocho. They married the spring of
1949. Jack and Sarah started their married life in Mercersburg, PA and later purchased a home in
Sarah’s home town of Shippensburg, PA. They were blessed with the birth of one daughter Traci
Vanessa Burke and four sons, Gregory Allen Burke (Donna) of Las Vegas, NV; Jack (Ted) Theodore
Burke Jr., (Dianna) of Harrisburg, PA; Lance Nocho Burke, (Tenisha} of York, PA; and Randy Lynn
Burke of Harrisburg, PA who is now deceased (Mellisa Parker).
Jack and Sarah separated after 16 years of marriage. Soon after, Jack retired with 36 years of federal
government service and remained in Shippensburg, PA until he moved to Harrisburg, PA where he
became his daughter’s roommate. They became active members of the original Penn Street AME
Church in Shippensburg, PA until his health declined. His daughter became his full time caregiver until
2017. Florence (Flo) Rittle came into their lives at that time and began to care for Jack two hours a
day Monday thru Friday. Flo and Jack became great friends and spent many hours sharing their
previous and current life experiences. Their voices and laughter would ring throughout Jack and Traci’s
apartment. This continued until Jack's untimely illness in April.
In addition to Jack’s daughter and three sons, left to bereave his passing are his two sisters, Mary
Louise (Dolly) Reidout of Kutztown, PA and Vicki Kieffer husband (Lester) of Mercersburg, PA, one
sister-in-law Constance L. Burke of Williamstown, NJ, several grandchildren, one great grandchild and
a host of nieces and nephews.
In addition to his parents, his beloved Teen and his youngest son Randy, Jack was predeceased by
sisters Dorothy Gates (Leon) and Roberta Lynch (Charles) and brothers Warren M. Burke (Elizabeth),
John W. Burke and three infant siblings Joe Louis Burke, Geneviene Burke and Betty Jane Burke, and
brother-in-law Albert E. Reidout.
Jack will be interred at the Locust Grove Cemetery, following a private graveside service.