Bill Burke

Bill Burke was a man gifted with both intelligence and a strong moral sense, who was an unwavering champion of the underdog. Throughout his life, Bill’s passion and dynamism placed him in a unique and rare category of people – those who will strive unceasingly for excellence. He was passionate about classical music, especially opera, and had many personal friendships with the luminaries of the field, as well as an encyclopedic musical knowledge. Bill’s vigorous intelligence, high principles, and literary talents will be deeply missed by all those who had the privilege of knowing him.

William was born on November 24, 1920, to proud parents Milton and Sophie (Kempf) Burke. The Burke family lived in Kalamazoo, Michigan, where Milton owned a decal sign company and Sophie stayed at home with the kids. When the time came for Bill to go to school, he attended first Parkwood Public School and then St. Augustine High School. Academically gifted and respected by his fellow students, Bill was elected president of the student body before his graduation in 1938.

Bill went on to Kalamazoo College, where he majored in economics and minored in English. When he was a senior, Bill was shocked along with the rest of the nation by the bombing of Pearl Harbor. He felt called to serve his country, and enlisted in the U.S. Navy after finishing his degree. In the Navy, Bill was selected to go to mine disposal school, an elite assignment, and spent fifteen months in the Aleutian Islands. At this point, Bill was transferred to Washington, D.C., where he became a publications officer, writing intelligence bulletins for the men in the field.

While Bill was in D.C., he met the woman who would be the love of his life – Elizabeth “Ellie” Marquez. Ellie, originally from Puerto Rico, was working on the Inter-American Defense Board. Bill and Ellie soon fell in love, and were married after Bill’s discharge, on July 20, 1946.

The happy couple settled down on Long Island, where Bill completed his graduate work at Columbia University. He earned his master’s in English in 1948, and by the next year had started teaching English at Hofstra College in New York. In 1950, Bill returned to Kalamazoo, where he became Kalamazoo College’s first ever Catholic professor (it was originally a Baptist college). He taught there for three years, but in the end decided he “didn’t love it enough,” and left to pursue other goals. In fact, literature was only his second love – first and foremost was music.

In the meantime, Bill and Ellie’s family had been growing. They were blessed with six children over the years, whom they named Larry, Mary Anne, Kathleen, Teresa, Steve and Peter. Bill supported his family by managing the hi-fi portion of an electronics store with his friend, Jim Toorman, which was called “The Sound Room.” Bill was fascinated by the hi-fi equipment which was just starting to become popular. He had a knack for building electronics, and Bill and Jim wanted to provide equipment for the “average Joe” who enjoyed listening to music. In 1957, their venture evolved into an independent business, which they opened in downtown Kalamazoo.

In 1969, Bill sold his controlling interest in the Sound Room, although he continued working as their bookkeeper until his retirement in 1985. He was able to spend more time exploring his other passions, especially writing and opera music. Although he himself couldn’t sing or play a note, Bill loved the opera, and knew everything about music. He became personal friends with many famous musicians, who were attracted by Bill’s in-depth knowledge of the field and personal charisma. He sat on the board of the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra, and acted as the program annotator for the KSO for 30 years under the pen name of Hans Lick.

Bill was also a tireless researcher, and spent many hours studying the effects of Vitamin C on arthritis, from which he suffered. He was a pro-life advocate, and wrote many letters defending the cause of the unborn. Bill was an incredibly talented writer, and he used his talents for the good of the community, always fighting for the underdog.

As the years went by, Bill became a proud grandfather and great-grandfather. He and Ellie loved hosting family gatherings, and always looked forward to holidays and birthdays.

Intelligent and complex, dynamic and honorable, Bill was a brilliant scholar, a loving husband, father, and grandfather, and a loyal friend. He will be deeply missed by his many friends and family members.

William Burke died on October 31, 2012, at the age of 91. Bill was preceded in death by his wife, Elizabeth “Ellie” Burke; and by his siblings, Bobby Burke, Jim Burke and Virginia Ferrara. His family includes his children, Larry (Bonnie) Burke, Mary Anne (Bob) VanOosterhout, Kathleen Drybrough, Teresa Marshall, Steve (Myra) Burke and Pete Burke; 11 grandchildren; 8 great-grandchildren; his siblings, Barbara Eckrich, Jack (Jane) Burke and Howard (Pat) Burke; and many nieces and nephews.

Learn more about Bill, view his Life Story film, and share in some refreshments with his family and friends from 2 to 5 p.m. on Sunday, November 4, at the Life Story Funeral Home, Betzler – Kalamazoo; 6080 Stadium Dr., 375-2900, where a rosary will be recited at 2 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, November 5, at St. Augustine Cathedral. A luncheon will follow in the Cathedral Center. Memorial donations may be directed to Caring Network or St. Augustine Cathedral. Please visit Bill’s personal memory page at www.lifestorynet.com, where you can learn more about his life, share favorite memory or photo, and sign the online guestbook.