Jean Louise Burkee

Jean Louise Burkee, age 88, currently a resident of Milwaukee, died on Thursday, May 21, 2015, at St. Anne’s Home, Milwaukee.

Born on June 20, 1926 in Kenosha, she was the daughter of the late Leonard and Ella (Merrill) Mattson.

Jean attended Kenosha schools and following her youngest child’s enrollment in Kindergarten, she earned her teaching certificate from Union Grove Teachers College and went on to receive her BA Degree from Carthage College.  Her Commencement followed her daughter Christine’s by one year.

In 1950 she was united in marriage to Wallace E. Burkee.  Wallace became Mayor of Kenosha in 1967 and served until 1976.

She taught at Forest Park Elementary School in Kenosha and Audubon Middle School in Milwaukee.

Jean was a member of Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church in Kenosha and of J.U.S.

Jean was a generous, creative and much loved person. She enjoyed painting, quilting, and spending time with family and friends.

She is survived by her two daughters, Christine (Richard) Hobbs of Milwaukee and Allison (Scott) Plous of Higganum, CT; her son, James (Mary) Burkee of Milwaukee; six grandchildren, Jennifer, Michael, Alexander, Matthew, Christopher and Fijare; and two great grandchildren, Lillian and Nikola.

Along with her parents, she was preceded in death by a sister, Barbara Roehr, and two brothers, Edwin and Wayne Mattson.