William J.  Burke, Jr.
Died: Apr 6, 2020
William J. Burke, 92 of Hackettstown, NJ, passed away at his home surrounded by his loving family on Monday, April 6, 2020. A lifelong resident of Hackettstown, "Bill" was the son of the late William & Lena Riedinger Burke, Sr. Viewing hours and a mass of Christian burial will be announced shortly. A complete obituary with service details will be posted within the next few days. Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.cochranfuneral.com. The Cochran Funeral Home, 905 High Street, Hackettstown, NJ has been entrusted with the funeral arrangements.

Condolences:

Michel Beliveau
#38
May 31st, 2020 3:49 pm
I began attending Mr. Burke's Saturday morning kids practices when I was a very young boy. My brother, Jan, had wrestled for him 1957 - 60 and got me started with Mr. Burke then. Spending Saturday mornings in gym four was my routine for many years. Then and buy but hroughout my high school wrestling career I felt Mr. Burke took a special interest in me, always guiding me toward the things I should do and not judging the things I did. He was a warm and generous man and I thank God for his guidance. May he rest in peace and love.
Michael Lopez
#37
May 28th, 2020 6:11 pm
My condolences to the Burke family. Coach Burke was my wrestling coach and mentor. I started in his Saturday wrestling clinic while in 8th grade and for 4 years through high school at Morris Hills Regional. He was a great man and will be missed. Prayers
Chick Dimiceli
#36
April 24th, 2020 9:32 am
I just heard of the passing of Bill. My condolence to the Burke family ,Bill was one of our oldest customers in the shop. He was always a pleasure to talk to.A finer person you could never find.May he rest in peace
Bob and Donna Kehler
#35
April 17th, 2020 10:29 am
To Mrs. Burke and the entire Burke family, we are so sorry to hear about the passing of Mr. Burke. He was without a doubt one of the friendliest and caring people we have had the pleasure to know. He was a great teacher, coach and father and will be missed. He will always be thought of with kind memories and admiration. Our deepest sympathies to the entire Burke family.
Linda Schaarschmidt
#34
April 15th, 2020 9:02 pm
Dear Mom Burke, Patricia, and the whole family, My thoughts and prayers are with you at this difficult time. I am so sorry to hear about Papa Burke. I have so many wonderful memories because I was fortunate to know and be welcomed so many years ago, by Mr. Burke and your influential family. I wish you strength as you cherish the blessings of your lives.
William Chilcott
#33
April 15th, 2020 8:00 pm
My condolences to the family of Coach Burke for his passing. I was fortunate to call him teacher, coach, and friend. He never uttered a cross word, and always offered encouragement and guidance. I was blessed to have a person like him in my life. God bless Mr. Burke and his family. May he rest in peace.
Cliff Back
#32
April 15th, 2020 8:37 am
My deepest regrets to the Burke family. Bill was a loved and respected person. He will be greatly missed. May you all stay healthy and safe during this very difficult time My thoughts and prayers are with you all...
Jeff and dora hull
#31
April 15th, 2020 8:30 am
Coach Burke molded and changed countless lives of his wrestlers. We entered the wrestling room as young, naive and undisplined children and if you stuck with him and followed his program you grew up. When he had something important he thought you should know about yourself, whether good or bad, he would begin by addressing you as “Brother Hull.” It meant that it was time to pay attention. I never remember him losing his temper or raising is voice but he had a look that let you know that it was time to change your path. Many of lessons learned in that wrestling room remained as a cornerstone of my life. Thanks Coach Burke! Yes, one man can change your life.
Jeff and dora hull
#30
April 15th, 2020 8:08 am
Coach Burke molded and changed countless lives of his wrestlers. We entered the wrestling room as young, naive and undisplined children and if you stuck with him and followed his program you grew up. When he had something important he thought you should know about yourself, whether good or bad, he would begin by addressing you as “Brother Hull.” It meant that it was time to pay attention. I never remember him losing his temper or raising is voice but he had a look that let you know that it was time to change your path. Many of lessons learned in that wrestling room remained as a cornerstone of my life. Thanks Coach Burke! Yes, one man can change your life.
Rich Godlewsky
#29
April 14th, 2020 6:04 am
Dear Mrs. Burke and family, we are so sorry to hear of your loss. When my older sister told me the sad news I added an extra rosary for Mr. Burke's soul to my next days prayers and have been including him in my daily prayers. I will have a mass said for him next time I see a Priest. I recall my early childhood and how your family allowed me to come over with Shawn before wrestling practice. You not only made me feel welcome but to this day I can still smell the home made bread you made. Such a loving family and such wonderful memories you and your husband have given me and I'm sure many others. May his soul and the souls of all the faithful departed rest in peace.
George and Lorraine Hrobuchak
#28
April 13th, 2020 12:36 pm
Dear Aggie and Family, Please accept our deepest condolences. Bill was an outstanding educator who touched the lives of countless students. As a friend we will always remember his quick wit and contagious smile. Bill was one of the good guys. May God be with him.
George and Lorraine Hrobuchak
#27
April 13th, 2020 12:30 pm
Joan Melberger
#26
April 12th, 2020 2:34 pm
Our thoughts and prayers are with the entire family. Bill was a wonderful friend and will be missed. Love to all Joan & Fred
Barbara Shaw
#25
April 11th, 2020 5:59 pm
My deepest sympathy to all the family. I always met Bill in the shop rite and we had wonderful visits. I will miss seeing him and "catching up."
Claudia Conway & Butch Petersen
#24
April 11th, 2020 1:00 pm
Mrs Burke and Family So very sorry to hear of Mr. Burke's passing. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all. I will always remember the year that he was our Grand Marshall at the St Patrick's Day parade. May he rest in peace.
Dan and Elyse Allen
#23
April 10th, 2020 9:16 am
Dear Mrs Burke. Bud and family, we are so very sorry to hear of Mr Burke's passing. Any of us who grew up in town knew of his reputation as a successful tough coach but after spending many years around him, he was one of the most friendly and caring person you could find on this earth. He will always be in our memories as of "one of the good guys "of Hackettstown. Our thoughts and prayers to Aggie and the Burke family in this very difficult time.
John and Kathy Hansler
#22
April 10th, 2020 7:39 am
Our thoughts and prayers are with you all at the loss of your dad. He was such a wonderful man,husband,father and will be missed by all. May God Bless
Larry Walko
#21
April 9th, 2020 3:13 pm
May i wish my deepest sorrow on uncle Bill's passing. Words can not express the love and respect I and everyone who knew him had. He left his mark on everyone. My thoughts and prayers go out to you and the whole family on such a great loss.
Linda and Ed Palmer
#20
April 9th, 2020 12:43 pm
Our family is going to miss Bill. If you mention all the words that describe a good man (coach, teacher, friend, mentor, teacher, loving son, husband, father, grandfather, and great grandfather). All of them would describe Bill. That’s not to mention his skill as a piano player...all the good memories Much love to the family.
Patti Rowe(Snover)
#19
April 9th, 2020 12:39 pm
I am so sorry for your great loss. You’re all in my prayers, may God touch your hearts with His comfort and love. I had so much respect for your Husband and Dad. He was always so kind and thoughtful. You all have such wonderful memories to keep him close to your hearts. Love you all, Patti
Nora Palmer-Gould
#18
April 9th, 2020 12:29 pm
Cousin Bill, what a great guy, wonderful piano player, good humored and one of Mom's (Agnes Palmer) favorite people, It was always going to be a good family party when Bill and Aggie were there. Family man par excellance and respected by my brothers as a wrestling coach. You were a lucky family to have him, your memories will sustain you in this time of grief. Cousin Nora
Mary Painter
#17
April 9th, 2020 11:42 am
My sincere condolences to the entire Burke family.
John Fenimore
#16
April 9th, 2020 10:36 am
One of the good guys. A big loss. Condolences to Shawn, Katie, and rest of family.
Peter J Ippolito
#15
April 9th, 2020 8:43 am
To the Burke family, I was one of Coach's Burke's wrestlers when he coached wrestling at Morris Hills. He was tough on all of us during those years. I thought of him often over the years and wished I could have seen him to tell him thanks. He molded boys into men. God bless Coach Burke.
Scott Tillou
#14
April 9th, 2020 6:22 am
So sorry for your loss. Mr. Burke was a great and friendly man. Thoughts and prayers to him and his family. May he RIP always to be remembered.
Donald F. Thomson
#13
April 8th, 2020 7:27 pm
Dear Coach, Thanks for all your help in getting me thru H.S and then college, My first year coaching we spent time in Pa. for a wrestling clinic and your advice and counseling got me thru my teaching years, I will never forget you Coach. Don Thomson
Ed Dunn
#12
April 8th, 2020 7:11 pm
My deepest condolences to the Burke family. Mr. Burke was a great teacher/coach and was my mentor for years. Good bye Coach.
ANDREA GROGAN
#11
April 8th, 2020 3:52 pm
Sincerest condolences to the Burke family. He was my seventh grade homeroom teacher. He was a wonderful teacher he was stern but still had a great sense of humor. He was the perfect teacher for those in-between years of 12 to 14 years old. Taught us tact and diplomacy.
marlene m kwak
#10
April 8th, 2020 12:57 pm
With deepest sympathy, I will always remember him as one of my very favorite people. God Bless Agie and all the family. May the happy memories bring you comfort., Marlene .
Art & Kathy Barnes
#9
April 8th, 2020 11:26 am
So sorry! Coach was the most influential men in my life. Kathy and I will l will always remember as more than a teacher, coach, friend and role model. He will missed by everyone. Good buy coach!
Dennis Florentine
#8
April 8th, 2020 11:06 am
Mrs. Burke and family - so sorry to hear of Mr. Burke's passing. Your family was so good to my mom over the years. He was truly a wonderful man and someone to admire. Prayers to you and your family at this time of great loss.
Martin J O'Hora
#7
April 8th, 2020 10:41 am
Our prayers and sympathy go out to Aggie and the entire Burke family.Your father was as fine a man as I've ever known .God Bless!
Cathy Bielski
#6
April 8th, 2020 10:40 am
Our thoughts and prayers are with you at this time. We are so very sorry for your loss.
Jerry DiMaio, Jr.
#5
April 8th, 2020 10:39 am
Dear Mrs. Burke and family, I am so sorry of the passing of Mr. Burke. I knew him for roughly 50 years and I can honestly say I've never met a kinder man than him. He would always greet me with a sincere hello and always ask how I was doing and to say hello to my Dad. He will be missed by whoever had the pleasure to know him because of his friendly demeanor. I had the honor and privilege to have known this great man for a lot of years due to my lifelong friendship with Shawn, and I am very grateful for that. You all have a lot to be proud of, but most importantly you all had a lifetime of great times with a very special man. Rest in peace, Mr. Burke.
Carla and Lew Snover
#4
April 8th, 2020 8:06 am
Our condolences to the Burke family for your loss, we always had much respect for Mr Burke and the family in whole. May he Rest In Peace!
Ray & Angie Lemasters
#3
April 8th, 2020 7:23 am
Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Burke family at this time of loss. Bill will be greatly missed.
John and Donna Cummins
#2
April 7th, 2020 8:45 pm
So very sorry to hear of your Dad’s passing. He was such a great man, teacher, father, husband. So very sad to see a great person leave us. May your memories help you to smile through your tears.
Peg and Doug Sheldon-Russack
#1
April 7th, 2020 3:09 pm
Dear Mrs. Burke and family, we are so, so sorry. Mr. Burke was a positive force in our lives and we will miss him. Our thoughts and prayers go out to all of you in this difficult time.
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