William BURKE

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BURKE: It is with deep sadness that the family of William Richard Burke announce his death at the Hamiota District Hospital on Monday, April 27, 2015. Born March 30, 1955 in London, Ontario, he was the second child of Bill and Lois Burke, little brother to Patty, but soon to be followed by siblings Gail, Steven and Cindy. He became known as Bill or Billy to his family and close friends. As Bill’s father was in the military it didn’t take long for the family to start putting on the miles. By the time the Burke’s landed in Shilo in 1967 when Bill was 13 the family had lived in Germany, Toronto, Whitehorse, and Karp. Shilo ended up being home, and Bill attended school and Cadets there. He began his employment at CFB Shilo in October of 1977, acquiring his Class 4 Power Engineering Certificate, and worked at the water treatment plant and the steam plant until retiring in May 2010 and moving to Miniota. Somewhere in there Bill met Lesli through mutual friends and she joined him in Spruce Woods in 1998. Married in 2004, and moving to Miniota in 2010, the two shared many interests. Billy loved to golf, fish and garden. He loved his Maple Leafs and took a lot of ribbing for his loyalty to them. He was a die-hard Hamilton Tiger Cats Fan, and although Bill was not a curler, he loved to “bonspiel”. He was an incredible cook. Many can attest that no chef has anything on Bill’s deep fried turkey, pulled pork, escargot, deep fried pickles, bloomin’ onions or baked beans. Collecting was also a huge hobby and anything that didn’t move fast enough was fair game. Books, tools, cooking utensils, badges and pins, dinky cars, books, stamps, mugs, knives, blown glass, books, fishing lures and reels, golf clubs, books and tropical fish. Oh, and books! And hand in hand with the collecting went the yard sales, auction sales and EBay. He would often come home and grumble about Steve Blair out bidding him, or glowing because he’d found a treasure Steve had missed. Bill loved kids and someone once told him that for someone with no children he had more “kids” than anyone they knew. He loved to attend the activities of his nieces and his nephews and also the activities of his friends’ children. Billy loved all things Scottish (especially his friends), but sadly he had to settle to being born British. He loved Haggis and was known to have thrown away more than one cork. The family was piped in to the service to Amazing Grace in his honour. His true passion and his legacy, was his family and friends. Lois made the statement that Billy was her “Rock of Gibraltar”. He came whenever she needed him. Ruth seconded that statement. As a friend he was fiercely loyal and just as forgiving, always there for everyone and the peace maker, right to the end - TOPS Pals, shuffleboard, Shilo Poker Buddies, fishing buddies, Union affiliates and co-workers, and of course his RFM crew. And as for “man’s best friend”, you never had a conversation with Bill that Barkley or Bailey’s name didn’t come up at some point. His last days were made happiest when they got to visit him in the hospital. Ralph Waldo Emerson said “When you were born you were crying and everyone else was smiling. Live your life so at the end, you're the one who is smiling and everyone else is crying.” Billy did just that. Bill died on April 27, with Lesli at his side. Although Cancer took his life, family and friends have wonderful memories of times spent with Bill. His legacy of friendship and love will continue on in all who knew and loved him. Billy is lovingly remembered by Lesli and Molly; mother Lois; mother-in-law Ruth Teasdale; siblings Patty (Robin) Mann and their children Christopher, Eric (Jody), Matthew (Charmane), Trevor (Akville); Gail Burke and her daughter Jennifer Campbell; Steven (Leah) Burke and their children Christopher, Katrina, Selena, Kylie, Brittany, Tamara, Andrea, Ayden; Cindy Burke and her daughter Chandra; sister-in-law Laurie (Raymond) Sheane and their children Ashley, Robyn, Nicole, Riley. Bill was predeceased by his father William and father-in-law Stan Teasdale. A service to celebrate Bill’s life was held in the Miniota Community Hall Miniota, MB on Thursday, April 30 with Linda Clark officiating. Private family Interment took place at the Isabella Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Billy's memory to the Hudson Suite, c/o Hamiota District Health Centre, Hamiota, MB, ROM 0T0 or to Miniota Fire Department, Miniota, MB, R0M 1M0. Messages of condolence and/or photos can be shared at www.campbellfuneralhome.ca.Campbell Funeral Home, Hamiota were entrusted with the arrangements.

As published in Brandon Sun on May 16, 2015