LeRoy "Joe" Joseph Burk, Jr.

LeRoy “Joe” Joseph Burk, Jr., 84, of McGraw, NY, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, May 20, 2020, at the Van Duyn Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing, Syracuse, NY.

Joe was born in Cortland, NY, on November 29, 1935, the son of the late LeRoy Burk, Sr. and Nellie Burville Burk.  A lifelong resident of the area, he proudly served in the U.S. Army during the Korean Conflict and in the U.S. Marine Corps during the Vietnam Era Conflict.  He was a lifetime member of the American Legion Post #775, McGraw, and the VFW Post, Marathon.  Prior to his retirement, he had been employed by the U.S. Post Office, Syracuse.

He is survived by his children, Audrey (Lynn) Rider of Harford, and James (Gale) Grummons of Wellesley Island; and a son-in-law, Thomas Whitney, of McGraw.  He also leaves behind 11 grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; a brother, James (Shirley) Burk of Marathon; a close friend, Kay Alexander; a brother-in-law, Gordie Sutton;  several nieces, nephews, and cousins.

In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his wife, Sheila Carrier Burk on February 7, 1998; a daughter, Kona Whitney, on December 19, 2019; brothers, John Smith and Erwin “Dutch” Smith; and sisters, Mary McCracken and Helen Cook.

Graveside services, with military honors, will be held at the Virgil Cemetery on Saturday, August 15, 2020, at 10:00 a.m.  A light luncheon will immediately follow the burial at Joe's home (3623 McGraw-Marathon Road, McGraw, NY).  Please bring a lawn chair.  Expressions of sympathy in memory of Joe may be directed to McGraw Rescue Squad, 7 W. Center Street, McGraw, NY 13101.