Obituary of Joseph James Burke

Joseph James Burke, 71, of Spring Lake passed away on Monday, May 7, 2018 at Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune. He was born in Rockville Center, Long Island, and grew up on his family farm in Freehold, NJ.

Joe attended St. Rose of Lima in Freehold and was in the third graduating class at Christian Brothers Academy in Lincroft.  He completed his undergraduate studies at Seton Hall University majoring in History, a lifelong passion. 

Joe was a first lieutenant in the United States Army and spent October 1970 to October 1971 on the DMZ in Korea.   He was a recipient of a purple heart for his time overseas.

Joe joined KPMG in 1974 in Trenton after graduating from Rutgers University School of Business with an MBA.  He later transferred to the Newark office in 1978 where he worked in the Financial Services Group and was elected to the partnership in 1986.  At that time, Joe became the partner in charge of the thrift practice in New Jersey.  He was a great client service partner and a true champion for the thrift industry during the savings and loan crisis of the late eighties and early nineties.  Joe was a mentor and friend to all his clients and coworkers.  He was a leader who led by example and was always available to advise his team with his knowledge, experience and wit.  Joe retired from KPMG in 2004.  He was currently a member of the Board of Directors of Ocean First Financial Corp where he also served as Audit Committee Chairman.

He was an original member of Eagle Oaks Golf Club, a fan of Notre Dame football, and wintered in Vero Beach, FL.  Joe was happiest at home with his family, and cutting his grass while smoking his cigar.

He was predeceased by his parents, Gerald and Jeanette Burke of Freehold.  Joe is survived by his high school sweetheart, Jeanne; his four children, Bryan, Kathryn, Andrew and Alex; brother Gerald Burke and his wife, Annemarie of Madison, CT, three sisters, Barbara Susan Smith and her husband, Richard, Jeanette Nevenglosky and her husband, Tom and Diane Ostrander and her husband, Robert, all of Freehold, NJ; as well as a large extended family.

Visitation will be held at the Clayton & McGirr Funeral Home, 100 Elton-Adelphia Road (Route 524), Freehold Township on Friday, May 11, 2018 from 4:00 to 8:00 PM.  Relatives and friends are invited to attend his 10:30 AM Funeral Mass on Saturday, May 12, 2018 at St. Catharine Church, 215 Essex Avenue, Spring Lake.  Interment will follow in St. Anne’s Cemetery, 1610 Allenwood Road, Wall, NJ 07719.  For those who desire, donations in memory of Joe may be made to Family Resource Associates, 35 Haddon Avenue, Shrewsbury, NJ 07702.  For information, directions or to offer condolence messages to the family, visit www.claytonfuneralhome.com.