04/19/2024
Congratulations John Burke!! Well deserved! 🖤🧡
We proudly announce that John Burke, Jr. will be inducted into the Mater Dei Hall of Honor on May 3, 2024. Established in 1997, the Hall of Honor recognizes alumni and friends of Mater Dei who have lived their lives as witnesses of her mission.
Following his graduation from Mater Dei in 1986, John earned an Associate of Arts degree in architectural design and structural technology from Ranken Technical Institute and built a career in the field of engineering. Currently, he serves as a lead field engineer for CH2MHill/Jacobs Engineering, where he has been employed since 1997.
In keeping with our calling to serve our community, John established the Jared Burke Foundation (JBF) in honor of his brother, the late Jared Burke ‘01, who was killed in a hunting accident. Since its inception in 2014, JBF has provided over 150 outdoor adventures, including hunting trips, to disabled or underserved outdoorsman, veterans, and first responders. In addition, JBF has provided accessible hunting blinds for Eldon Hazlet State Park in Carlyle and is working with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources to provide accessible hunting blinds throughout the state. Finally, in conjunction with Illinois Conservation Foundation, JBF is preparing a video that shares the story of Jared’s accident for use as an education tool in hunter safety courses.
As a resident of Bartelso, John is an active member of St. Cecilia Catholic Church.
He and his partner, Gina Hickle, are blessed with a blended family: John’s son, Alex ‘10; Gina’s four children, Shaun, Paige, Matt, and Josiah; and nine grandchildren.
John will be inducted with Helen Essenpreis ’73, Kevin Haselhorst, M.D. ’77, Joseph Klostermann ’63, and Vernon Mohesky ’63.
The celebration will begin at 6:30 p.m. with Mass in the Mater Dei Chapel, followed by dinner and the induction ceremony. Proceeds benefit the Mater Dei Memorial Grant Fund. For reservations, contact the office by April 26 (618-526-7216).
Visit our website, www.materdeiknights.org, to read the biographies for all the inductees.
