Thomas James Burke

Thomas James Burke, affectionately known as Jim, age 75, of Jasper, GA, passed away on June 9th, 2026. Born on August 3rd, 1950, in Endicott, New York, he was the beloved son of Phyllis M. Somers Burke and Thomas A. Burke. His parents provided him with what he always considered "the best childhood," one that was richly filled with family, friends, school, and sports. Jim carried lifelong, cherished memories of family vacations to Wildwood, New Jersey, and stays at the cabins in Holiday Lake. He later pursued his higher education at SUNY Oswego, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science in 1972.

A natural leader with a strong work ethic, Jim enjoyed a highly successful and respected career. For over three decades, from 1985 until his retirement in May 2017, he served as the Director of Service Operations at Heidelberg USA Inc. In this pivotal role, he was a dedicated people manager for 400 Field Service Technicians, successfully overseeing a $48 million service business.

Beyond his professional achievements, Jim was deeply committed to giving back, generously offering his time to Shriners Children's, CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) and his local Republican Party (GOP). Those who knew him best describe him as loyal, protective, selfless, and loving—an emotional and deeply caring man who naturally drew people together. Exceptionally friendly and social, he cherished spending time with his friends and proudly served as the "ringleader" for their social gatherings for more than 50 years. A true sports enthusiast throughout his life, his greatest joy was always found in his family. He was an immensely active and proud grandfather, and could always be found cheering from the sidelines at his grandchildren's sporting and school events.

Jim leaves behind a beautiful legacy of love. He is survived by his devoted wife of 17 years, Debra Burke. He will be deeply missed by his daughter, Lindsay Burke O'Neal and her husband Chris; his stepdaughter, Karen Florence and her husband Kyle; and his stepson, Greg Pagano and his wife Ashley. He is also survived by his brother, Richard Burke and his wife Judy; his six cherished grandchildren: Hunter and Caroline O'Neal, Waverly and Wylder Florence, and Madison and Owen Pagano; his nieces, Shelly McCammon and Carrie McCall and her husband Adam; his nephew, Matt Varnell and his wife Leah; and his cousin, Jackie Sammon.

He was preceded in death by his first wife, Craig Smith Burke; his parents, Phyllis and Thomas; his grandparents, Ruth and Marvin Faling and Hazel and Claude Cady; his Uncle, Roger Faling; his Aunt, Joyce Curtis and his cousin, Bonnie Cornick, who was truly like a sister to him.

A Celebration of Life honoring Jim will be held on Sunday, June 28th, from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM EDT at the Brookfield Country Club in Roswell, GA. Friends and family are invited to gather, share memories, and celebrate a life incredibly well-lived. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in his name to Shriners Children's at https://donate.shrinerschildrens.org/Jim-Burke.