Irvin Joe Burk was born on July 14th, 1941 in Lawton, Oklahoma, the third child to Clarence and Myrtle Burk. Joe's father died when he was three years old, and he was raised by his mother Myrtle, older brother Sydney, and older sister Sherry.


When he turned 18, he served his country in the US Air Force and was honorably discharged after four years of service. Upon leaving the Air Force, he met the love of his life in Memphis Tennessee, married her, and had three children. Their first child, a girl they named Andrea, was stillborn. His second child was a boy, Todd Jason Burk, followed two years later by another boy, Thad Joseph Burk. He moved his family to Oklahoma City, Oklahoma in 1973, where he would live out the rest of his life.


Joe was an avid card player and won several local and regional Bridge tournaments. Joe played recreational basketball, read voraciously, and loved talking about sports and American history with friends, family, and even strangers. Joe became a Christian early in his adult life and read the bible cover to cover numerous times. He traveled to the Holy Land twice to trace the steps of his savior Jesus Christ. He would go on to serve as Todd and Thad's spiritual mentor and would pray with them and for them on a daily basis. No one knew the bible better than Joe Burk.


Joe was in insurance sales most of his adult life, eventually catering specifically to older citizens in Oklahoma to ensure they had the coverage they needed for themselves and their families. Joe never met a stranger and made many friends along his journey, sharing his love for Christ and his gratefulness for his family.


Joe had two grandchildren, Peyton Joseph and Savannah Marie, whom he cherished and lavished with gifts of love, candy, and donuts every Saturday morning. Joe will be deeply missed by his sons and daughter-in-law, his sisters, nieces, and cousins, and by all that he shared his life with. Rest in Peace Irvin Joe Burk.