Michael Stephen Burke

Michael Stephan Burke, 56, died Saturday, May 26, 2007 at St. Francis Hospital in Topeka following an extended illness. Mr. Burke was born on December 20, 1950, at Genn Hospital at Wamego, Kansas, the son of Louis James and Mary Lou (Lippencott) Burke. He attended Wamego schools and graduated in 1968. In 1969 and 1970, he attended Kansas State University. On August 1, 1971, Mike married Sheila L. Bairow at the First Baptist Church in Manhattan, Kansas. She survives. He was an auto parts manager for many years, working at Key Pontiac, Lewis Chevrolet, Morton Motors and Ray’s Petroleum. Mike was a drummer in the K-State Marching Band and was baptized in the Wamego United Methodist Church. He was a lifetime member of the Boy Scouts of America and volunteered for many years as a leader at many levels. He was awarded the Silver Beaver Award for outstanding leadership and the Vigil rank of the Order of the Arrow. He was also the father of two Eagle scouts. Along with his wife, Sheila, Mr. Burke is survived by two sons, Todd Michael Burke and his wife, Samantha, and David Charles Burke, and his girlfriend, Kate Starzec, all of Manhattan; one brother, Rick Burke and his wife, Karen, Wamego; two aunts, Paticia Lang and her husband, Gene, West Virginia and Vi Burke, North Carolina, one great aunt, Jean Huey, Junction City and three grandchildren: Aaron and Kayla Burke, Wamego and Brendan Schoemaker, Iowa and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents. Funeral Services for Mike will be 10:30 a.m. Thursday, May 31, 2007 at Stewart Funeral Home of Wamego with the Rev. Jim Kiker officiating. Burial will follow in Wamego City Cemetery. He will lie in-state on Wednesday beginning at 1:00 p.m. at the funeral home and the family will receive friends at a visitation from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. Memorials are suggested to the Wamego Boy Scouts of America and may be left in care of Stewart Funeral Home of Wamego, P.O. Box 48, 66547.