Karen Christine (Kacey) Burke

Karen Christine (Kacey) Burke, 63, of Spokane, WA, (formerly of DeWitt, IA) passed away March 16, 2025, after a brief illness. Karen was born May 17, 1961, to Robert (Bob) and Frances (Green) Burke in DeWitt, Iowa. She graduated from DeWitt Central Community High School in 1979. After high school, she studied horticulture sciences at Kirkwood Community College, Cedar Rapids, IA.

Always an adventurer, she headed west seeking new opportunities and the thrill of the unknown.  First to Whitefish, MT and then to Spokane, WA arriving in 1984 where she settled for the past 40+ years. She loved the Northwest where she could truly connect with nature. The beauty of the landscape wasn’t just an interest for her, it was her passion.

Her career centered around plants, trees, and landscaping. She worked at Gibson’s Nursery, Washington State Hospital, and the City of Spokane Parks and Recreation. When employed by the city, she enjoyed working at Riverfront Park, a 100-acre busy park with the largest urban waterfall in U.S., a carousel, and other attractions. She interacted with the public and thrived. But her favorite position was supervisor at Finch Arboretum & Gardens. Finch holds old over 2,000 trees and shrubs where she was able to find quiet and take refuge within the confines of nature. She retired in 2019.

In 2007, Karen received the gift of life through a kidney transplant from her first cousin, Jenny Burke Hager. She was forever grateful. She was a breast cancer survivor and a polycystic kidney disease (PKD) warrior. She made the most of life and had taken to traveling around the U.S. in her RV for the past 4 years since retirement.

She is survived by her husband, Jeff Perry of Spokane; her mother, Frances Burke of DeWitt; sisters, Barb Barber of DeWitt, and Shonale (Ron Perry) Burke of Schertz Texas; sister-in-law, Tami Rittmer Burke of Davenport; stepchildren Trisi and Mark Misterek of Spokane; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her father, Bob; sister, Marilyn Burke-Knutsen; brother, Richard Burke, brother-in-law, Leroy Knutsen, and nephew William Juuns.

A Memorial Mass will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, May 17th, 2025, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in DeWitt, with visitation two hours prior. All are welcome to lunch at St. Joseph Parish Hall in DeWitt followed by interment at Calvary Catholic Cemetery in Grand Mound. Obituary

Arrangements are in the care of Schultz Funeral Home, DeWitt. Condolences may be expressed at www.schultzfuneralhomes.com