Charles Rourke

Charles Rourke, 74, of Arvada, CO, formerly of Mt. Pleasant, IA, died Saturday, March 3, 2007 at the Mountain Vista Health Center in Wheatridge, CO. Friends may sign the register and leave memorials during normal business hours on Friday, March 16, 2007, at the Olson - Powell Memorial Chapel. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, March 17, 2007, at 10:30 a.m. at the Memorial Chapel, with the Rev. David Plooster officiating. Burial will be in the Pleasant Hill Cemetery. Memorials have been established to the Alzheimer's Association or to Pleasant Hill Cemetery. Born on January 29, 1933, near Edina, MO, Charles was the son of Bernard and Twila McGraw Rourke. He grew up in the Mt. Pleasant area and attended Mt. Pleasant High School prior to enlisting in the United States Navy during the Korean War. In 1953, he married Norma Myers. Following his marriage he attended Bailey Tech in St. Louis, MO, for diesel engine training and later took a course in jet engine mechanics. After moving his family to Colorado in 1959, he worked as a mechanic for Continental Airlines, Continental Trailways and the Regional Transportation District. Prior to his retirement in 1990, Charles was an instructor of mechanics. His retirement years were filled with much time being spent at the cabin the family had built in the mountains southwest of Denver. Charles is survived by his wife Norma of Arvada, CO; two daughters, Nancy (Jan) Michael of Hillsboro, NH, and Sandra (Tim) Horst of Arvada, CO; two sons, Steven (Nancy) Rourke of Thornton, CO, and Mitchell (Shawn) Rourke of Granby, CO. He is also survived by three brothers, Kenneth (Marty) Rourke of Vancouver, WA, Jerry (Jo) Rourke of Fairplay, CO, and Ben (Corrine) Rourke of Lucerne, CA; two sisters, Betty (Jim) Teal of Martin, TN, and Dorothy (Charles) Gerleman of Reynolds, IL; three grandchildren, Sara and Christopher Michael of Mechanicsburg, PA, and McKenna Horst of Arvada, CO; three step-grandchildren, Zachary, Joshua and Dani Broady of Granby, CO; great-grandchild, M. Kaidan Michael; and step great-grandchild, Eli Broady. Charles will also be missed by brothers and sisters-in-law, Elvin (Anna) Myers, Lila (Dwayne) Logan and numerous nieces and nephews. Charles was preceded in death by his parents.