Dorothy Jean Thornburg Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

Dorothy Jean Thornburg Dorothy Thornburg, age 95, passed away in her sleep early in the morning of Saturday, June 11, 2022. Dorothy was born in Evansville, IN on March 8, 1927, to John G. and Elizabeth J. (Meyer) Drexler, the eighth of nine children. Dorothy went to St. Benedict School and graduated from Reitz Memorial High School with honors in 1945. She later graduated with a bachelor’s degree from the University of Evansville. Dorothy married Robert Edward Burke in 1949. She was a Senior Buyer with Potter and Brumfield in Princeton, Indiana from which she retired in 1989. Her first husband, Robert, passed away in 1983. Dorothy married Edsel Thornburg in 1986. A giving heart, Dorothy took time to attend to her sisters, Edsel’s aunts, and others who needed to be transported or cared for. Dorothy volunteered for Welborn Hospital, St. Mary’s Medical Center, made beds for the Little Sisters of the Poor nursing facility for 15 years, cleaned church on Monday mornings at 6 a.m., was a Lay Eucharistic Minister, worked bingos and hamburger suppers, church dinners, church socials, and was a regular in card clubs, Memorial girls’ luncheons, SWIRCA, and had dinner out with friends each evening. Dorothy was preceded in death by her first husband Robert, her second husband Edsel, four of her seven children, Robert Edward Burke, Jr., James Patrick Burke, Thomas Edward Burke and Glenn Joseph Burke, and a stepdaughter Sandra Elpers. Two grandchildren, Everett Robert Brown and Jared Burke Morgan preceded Dorothy. Dorothy was one of nine children all who preceded her in death. Dorothy is survived by her children Brent (Alecia) Burke of Wadesville, Betty (Jerry) Brown of Evansville, and Lois (Ron) Morgan of Evansville. Her stepchildren Karen Frye, Linda (Mike) Andry, (Bud) Elpers, and Kenneth Thornburg and their children and grandchildren. Dorothy’s grandchildren are Joshua (Laura) Burke, Andrea Taylor, Jillian (Joshua) Clark and Haley (Andy) Dile. Great-grandchildren are Ethan Clark, Gabriel Burns, Evan Burns, Alexis Clark, Caelan Weilbrenner, Anastasia Taylor, Elliana Taylor, Mason Dile, Ava Burke, Kayleigh Burke, Charlotte Dile, and Julian Taylor. The family wishes to thank Willow Park Independent Community and West River Health Campus for their loving and compassionate care of Dorothy. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, June 15, at Good Shepherd Catholic Church in Evansville with Father Zach Etienne officiating. Visitation will be on Tuesday, June 14 from 3:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Ziemer Funeral Home East Chapel with a Rosary at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, visitation will continue at the church from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. Wednesday. Burial will be at St. Bernard Catholic Church Cemetery in Snake Run, Indiana immediately after the conclusion of the Mass. Donations in her honor can be made to Good Shepherd Catholic Church children’s fund, 2301 N Stockwell Rd, Evansville, IN 47715 or St. Bernard Catholic Church Cemetery Fund, 5342 E. State Rd 168 Fort Branch, IN 47648 Condolences may be made online at www.ziemerfuneralhome.com

Dorothy Jean Thornburg

March 11, 1927 - June 11, 2022