Richard Arnold Burko Sr.

With the passing of Richard A. Burko Sr., our heavens have gained a man of honor, integrity and generosity. He lived a life rooted in family, and strived to protect and nurture those around him. Born on August 15th, 1942 in Rock Creek, Ohio. Richard graduated from Rock Creek in 1960 where he promptly joined the Navy and headed to boot camp in San Diego. He proudly served as an electrician on the USS Ticonderoga (LSD), as well as on Landing Craft Units (LCU) Assault Craft Division serving in Vietnam, the Philippines and other overseas ports and stations. While out dancing in a friend's lounge, Richard met his first wife, Graciela. They were married in San Francisco, California. Richard lost his first wife to cancer shortly after the birth of their third child. In San Francisco, he worked at Hunter's Point Naval Shipyard as an Electrician. In 1973, he transferred to Bremerton, WA and worked at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard as an Electrical Planner & Estimator. He settled his family in Port Orchard, WA. and later married Barbara May, adding stepson, Garrett Donato, to the family and together they had a son, Thomas Daryl Burko. Richard was a member of the Veteran's of Foreign War (VFW), the American Legion, and the Fraternal Order of Eagles where he started bartending part time as a hobby. He spent a number of years bartending at the Bethel Square Restaurant and Lounge after retiring in 1997. Richard enjoyed collecting stamps, astronomy, camping, road trips and spending time with his family. In his later years, he loved taking road trips with his sister (Peg) and brother-in-law (Tom), attending his annual class reunion in Ohio and traveling to Alaska to visit his daughter Grace's family. He is survived by his sister Peg (Thomas) Heidecker, sons Richard (Diana) and Thomas Burko, daughters Grace (Roger) Nelsen, Christine Talmadge, grandchildren Roger Jr. (Christal) Nelsen, Brooklyn Firlan, Noah Nelsen, Richard Burko, Bryce Burko, Analise Burko, Bryan Talmadge, David Talmadge, and Ethan Talmadge, great grandchildren Braxton & Cash Firlan, as well as honorary grandchildren Joshua and Ashlyn Potz. He also leaves behind many cousins, nieces and nephews spread all over the United States. He was preceded in death by his father, Walter, stepmother Eleanor (Sietz) and mother Edythe (Masterfield), brothers Robert and Walter, sisters Edythe Mayabb, Patricia McCaskey, Dee Chapman, and Kathryn Kircher, his Aunt Helen (Nick) Korynoski, and Aunt Annie (Mike) Kotula. Service for Richard will be held at Rill Life Tribute Center, 1151 Mitchell Ave., Port Orchard, WA 98366 on Sunday, January 17th at 4:00 PM. Burial service will be held at Tahoma National Cemetery in Covington, WA on Monday, January 18th at 11:30 AM.