Charles Raymond Rourke

Charles R. Rourke, 74, of Arvada, CO. passed away on Saturday, March 3, 2007 at Mountain Vista Health Center in Wheatridge, CO. He is the loving husband of Norma; father of Nancy (Jan) Michael of Hillsboro, NH, Steven (Nancy) Rourke of Thornton, CO., Mitchell (Shawn) Rourke of Granby, CO., and Sandra (Tim) Horst of Arvada, CO. He is survived by three brothers; Kenneth (Marty) Rourke of Vancouver, WA, Jerry (Jo) Rourke of Fairplay, CO., Ben (Corinne) Rourke of Lucerne, CA., and two sisters Betty (James) Teal of Martin, TN. and Dorothy (Charles) Gerleman of Reynolds, IL. He is the grandfather of Sara and Christopher Michael of Mechanicsburg, PA. and McKenna Horst of Arvada, CO. ; stepgrandfather of Zachary, Joshua, and Dani Broady of Granby, CO.; great grandfather of M. Kaidan Michael and step great grandfather of Eli Broady. Charles was born near Edina, MO. on January 29, 1933 to Bernard and Twila Rourke who preceded him in death. He grew up in the Mt. Pleasant, Iowa area and attended Mt. Pleasant High School before enlisting in the US Navy during the Korean war. After his marriage in 1953 to Norma 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 until he retired as an instructor of mechanics in 1990. After that, much time was spent at the cabin the family had built in the mountains. Funeral services are being held at Horan & McConaty Funeral Home in Thornton, CO. on March 10 and a second service will be held at Olson Powell Funeral Home in Mt. Pleasant, IA on March 17, 2007 with burial following at Pleasant Hill Cemetery. Those who wish may make donations to the Alzheimer's Ass'n. or Pleasant Hill Cemetery.