Marshall F. "Buck" Burk Obituary (1929 - 2014)

WINTHROP ~ Marshall F. 'Buck' Burk, 85, of Winthrop, passed away on Veterans Day, Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2014. Marshall was born on July 24, 1929, in Lynn, Mass., the son of Isabel (Kehoe) and Frank L. Burk Sr. He grew up in Swampscott, Mass., on Blaney Circle and Puritan Avenue with his older brother Frank Jr. Growing up in Swampscott meant spending time on Fisherman's Beach where he fostered his love of fishing and the water. Buck was a 1946 graduate of Swampscott High School, where he proudly played team football. He attended the University of Maine at Orono studying wildlife management, playing football, and was a member of Kappa Phi Kappa and Phi Gamma Delta. He graduated from UMaine in 1954 with a Bachelor of Science degree in general agriculture. Marshall also did graduate work in education at UMaine and studied 'Legal Aspects of Public and Private Water Use and Management”. Buck enlisted in the Army with his brother, Frank, and life-long best friend, Jackie Clarke, in 1946. He served in the U.S Army with Co. F, 349th Infantry Regiment, Italy, from 1946 to 1947, and in the U.S. Army Signal Corps, Germany, from 1950 to 1951. In August 1953, Buck met Nona Noble of Bridgton, Maine, at Mattie's Bar in Marblehead, Mass. They eloped on Oct. 23, 1953, in Gorham. N.H. They first lived on the UMaine campus with their first born son Will. Next they moved to Milo, followed by Rockland, where Blaine and Tedda arrived, and then moved to Greenwood Avenue in Winthrop, followed soon by the arrival of Becky. Buck and Nona recently celebrated their 61st wedding anniversary. Buck's resume highlights included employment as a science and mathematics teacher in Rockland, executive secretary of the Natural Resources Council of Maine, and the director of environmental health at the Maine Lung Association. He retired in 1991. Buck was treasurer of the Maine League of Conservation Voters, a delegate of National Wildlife Federation; a national judge of the Civic Improvement Program with the National Council of Garden Clubs, Sears-Roebuck Foundation Inc.; vice president of the Knox County Fish & Game Association; director of the Megunticook Fish & Game Association; and president of the Gray Ghost Chapter, Trout Unlimited. He was a member of the International Lions Club, Winthrop; Natural Resource Council of Maine; the Nature Conservancy; and the American Legion, Winthrop, Post #40. Marshall most treasured spending time with Nona, the love of his life, his children and their families. He enjoyed hunting, fresh and salt water, river and stream, and ice fishing, flower and vegetable gardening and spending time “upta” camp on Rapid River. He loved a good game of bridge or cribbage, and was known to enjoy the occasional poker game. He and Nona traveled in their later years to Europe, Alaska, and the Caribbean, among many other destinations. Buck loved to chat with family, friends and those he met on the street. He enjoyed a good book, the daily newspaper, writing down his stories, listening to Celtic music, bagpipe and sea shanties, and keeping up with the news and politics. Buck had a great sense of humor and twinkle in his blue eyes. He never missed the opportunity to tell his children and grandchildren how proud they made him. He was predeceased by his brother, Frank L. Burk Jr.; and his brother-in-law, Richard Scoma. He is survived by his wife; his four children, Will Burk, and his companion, Ellen Rizeakos, of Saco, Blaine Burk, of Winthrop, Tedda Henry and her husband, Rick, of Augusta, and Becky Colompos Burk and her husband, Peter Colompos, of Jonesville, Vt.; seven grandchildren, Reid Burk and Kelsey Burk, both of Las Vegas, Daniel Burk and his fianc, Laura Donley, of Bangor, Whitney (Henry) Pierce and her husband, Jason, of Portland, Lindsey Colompos, of Brattleboro, Vt., Mitch Henry, of Augusta, and Riley Colompos, of Jonesville; sister-in-law, Julie Scoma, of Chicago; sister-in-law, Natalie Burk; and special cousin, Fred Burk, and his wife, Rosie, of Newry, and their families. Visiting hours will be from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 15, at Roberts Funeral Home, 62 Bowdoin Street, Winthrop. Interment will be held at a later date. The family has the greatest of gratitude to those who cared for Buck — your special care assured that he kept his dignity and grace throughout his declining health. Donations in his memory may be made to the Maine Veterans' Home, 310 Cony Road, Augusta, ME 04330; or to MaineGeneral Hospice, P.O. Box 828, Waterville, ME 04903. Memories, condolences, photos and videos may be shared with the family on the obituary page of our website at www.khrfuneralhomes.com