Former Kenosha Mayor, Wallace E. Burkee, age 88, currently a resident of Milwaukee, died on Thursday, September 11, 2014, at Aurora St. Luke’s Medical Center, Milwaukee.
Born in Kenosha on May 19, 1926, he was the eldest son of the late Norman and Viola (Chamberlain) Burkee.
Educated in Kenosha schools, he later enlisted in the United States Air Force. He served as an airplane and engine mechanic and was honorably discharged on August 28, 1946.
On February 18, 1950 in Waukegan, IL, he was married to Jean Louise Mattson.
The Kenosha native became Mayor in 1967. Wallace served until losing an election to Paul Saftig in 1976. Wallace became acquainted with Milwaukee Mayor Henry Maier when he served as the President of the Alliance of Cities. He was then offered and accepted the position of Director of Community Development for the City of Milwaukee under Mayor Maier.
He was a member of Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church in Kenosha and was an avid golfer.
Survivors include his wife of 64 years, Jean L. Burkee of Milwaukee; his two daughters, Christine (Richard) Hobbs of Milwaukee and Allison (Scott) Plous of Higganum, CT; his son, James (Mary) Burkee of Milwaukee; six grandchildren, Jennifer, Michael, Alexander, Matthew, Christopher and Fijare; and two great grandchildren, Lillian and Nikola.
He is further survived by a sister, Elizabeth (Walfred) Flesch.
Along with his parents he was preceded in death by a brother, Norman Burkee; and two sisters, Lois (Le Roy) Glaser and Carol June (Walter) Voss.
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