Thomas W. Bourke
Marriages
Ann Bourke - 1967
divorced.
Obituaries
Daily Trail page 3 - October 28, 1999
B&B EXCAVATING FOUNDER DIED IN CAR CRASH IN GYPSUM, by Marka Moser.
Thomas W. BOURKE, a longtime valley resident and co-founder of B&B Excavating, died Tuesday afternoon in a two-vehicle accident on the South Frontage Road west of Gypsum. He was 62. Memorial services are tentatively set for 10:30 a.m. Saturday at the Beaver Creek Chapel. Following an autopsy in Grand Junction, his body will be cremated.
"Tom was widely admired for his business integrity and was a wonderful father," said Ann BOURKE, who remembers how involved in motorcycle racing the entire family became as their children were growing up. "We traveled for years as a family, and even after our divorce Tom and I always remained very close friends. His best friends, however, were his kids.
"He was always there for them through their growing-up years, through adolescence and into young adulthood. They had such a wonderful, special relationship. It's such a shock to us all."
Because his son Patrick lived in Edwards, father and son had more time to be together as adults.
"Tom was able to spend so much time with Patrick' he'd bought a new home, was setting up another business and was happier than he's been in several years," Ann BOURKE added. "Patrick's going to miss that special bond a lot."
Both Patrick and Molly say their father was one of the best ever. He was an outstanding role model for them both. "He taught me to be an honest, stand up guy," Patrick BOURKE said. "Everyday I try to emulate his positive example and I'll miss that day to day bond we shared."
A Denver native, BOURKE was born Feb. 1, 11937 to Edward and Marietta BOURKE. He attended Denver schools, graduating from East High School. He earned a business degree from the University of Colorado, Boulder. BOURKE married his wife Ann in 1967.
In addition to his children, Patrick, 26, and Molly, 24, BOURKE is survived by a cousin Walter BOURKE of Denver and Barbara HULL, his partner for 12 years.
"Tom was such an honest, hardworking, compassionate and generous man," said HULL of her best friend. "His family came first for him. He was so full of life and was much younger than his years or bald head would tell you."
Steve WARREN had just returned from a trip to Ft. Lauderdale with BOURKE Monday evening.
"It was a guys trip, with Tom, Rick AGETT and Mike PERKIN, and we had a great time together," WARREN said. "It was the perfect trip. I've never seen Tom happier in my life. Finally everything was falling together for him."
"Whenever someone said,'Doc, aren't you and Tom BOURKE best friends?' WARREN added, "I was just plain proud that someone as kind, intelligent and genuine as Tom was thought of as my 'best friend.' I'll miss him terribly."
BOURKE was driving his pickup truck east on the frontage road in Gypsum shortly after 4 p.m., according to a Colorado Highway Patrol report, when John MANGELS turned left onto York View Drive in front of BOURKE's truck, hitting the vehicle. BOURKE, who was not wearing a seatbelt, was thrown from the truck. Both drivers were pronounced dead at the scene.
Memorial gifts in Tom BOURKE's memory may be made to the local Salvation Army.
