Obituaries
Obituary: Joseph “Burke” Schuster
He will be remembered by many for his positivity and zest for life.
Obituary was published and funeral arrangements were entrusted to the care and direction of the Fred C. Dames Funeral Home and Crematory.
Joseph “Burke” Schuster
Burke Schuster passed away at the age of 73, on Thursday, April 11, 2024 at Loyola University Medical Center. Burke was born on October 3, 1950, the son of the late Joseph and Lois (nee Dempsey) Schuster. Born and raised in Joliet, he was a graduate of Joliet Catholic High School and attended Joliet Junior College. Burke retired from Stepan Chemical as a Maintenance Mechanic after 25 years of dedicated service.
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In his younger years, you would find Burke coaching his kids in baseball and softball or at numerous bowling alleys throughout the community. When he wasn’t traveling as the head coach for the Joliet Stars, he enjoyed spending time with his family on vacations in Disney World, Las Vegas, and the beloved Woodhaven Lakes. Memories of bonfires, bass fishing, and fireworks with Ray and Shawn always brought a smile to his face.
Upon his retirement, his childhood passion for golf and witty banter was reignited through his senior golf league at the Joliet Park District golf courses. He never turned down the opportunity to play another 9 holes. During the off season, you would find him playing video poker, euchre, or rooting for any Chicago sports team, especially the White Sox.
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His family was his life’s purpose with his partner-in-crime and wife, Pat, always by his side. Together, they lived life to the fullest through endless vacations, laughter, and always finding the silver lining of his many medical obstacles. He was resilient and beat the medical odds multiple times beginning at the age of 2 surviving a risky and revolutionary heart surgery. After receiving a lung transplant at the age of 63, he was given a second chance at life and never looked back. He cheered/yelled from the sidelines of his grandchildren’s various sports and traveled to casinos throughout the country with his closest friends. This could not have happened without the extraordinary care provided to him by his wife, the Loyola Lung Transplant Team, and the support of Erica and Jen Dixon-Johnson.
Burke is survived by his loving wife of 46 years, Pat Dames-Schuster; his children, Burke (Dana) Schuster and Colleen (Ryan) Lawless; his grandchildren, Keegan and Kaelyn Schuster, and Sydney and Reese Lawless; siblings, Sally (Allen) Smith and Margie (Jerry) Morris; nieces and nephews, Ray (Kelly) Dames, Shawn (Joanna) Dames, Mary Ann Elberts (Justin Halliday), Lisa (Marty) Foody, Daniel Morris, and Christopher and Patrick Smith; numerous cousins and great nieces and nephews also survive.
He is preceded in death by his parents.
Funeral Services for Burke Schuster will be held at 9:00 a.m., on Tuesday, April 16, 2024, from the Fred C. Dames Funeral Home, 3200 Black Rd. (at Essington Rd.), Joliet, IL, with procession to the Cathedral of St. Raymond Nonnatus where a mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m. Interment will follow at Woodlawn Memorial Park II. Visitation will be held on Monday, April 15, 2024, at the funeral home chapel from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m.
In lieu of flowers and in honor of his life-saving lung transplant, donations to Gift of Hope in Burke’s name would be appreciated.
For more information, please call 815-741-5500 or visit his Memorial Tribute page at www.fredcdames.com where you can share a favorite memory or leave an online condolence.
