Rick Lee Burke

Wamego- Rick L. Burke, 55, passed away at Wamego City Hospital Friday April 4, 2008. Born on October 23, 1952 in Wamego, he was the son of Louis and Mary Lou (Lippencott) Burke. He attended and graduated from Wamego High School in 1970. On February 19, 1990, he married Karen Illeen Piper in Las Vegas, Nevada. Rick was a past member of the Wamego Jaycees and the Wamego American Legion/Harold Johnson Post. He worked at Balderson Inc. and the City of Wamego for several years following school. He then managed the Wamego Pizza Hut for 12 years. He was given an award for “Outstanding Contribution to Tourism in Kansas.” Rick also started the “Book It” reading program through Pizza Hut and also received several awards for sales and achievement nationally. He later opened his own pizza business, Mickey Burkes Pizza in Wamego for several years. He also worked at Bird’s Music and Vending and Parker-Hannifin in Manhattan, and worked at Nemaha Valley Kennels in Seneca, KS for several years until his health kept him from Working. He is survived by: his wife, Karen, of the home; his son, Joshua L. Burke also of the home; his sister-in-law, Sheila Burke of Wamego, KS; his brother-in-law, Perry Piper and wife Tara of McFarland, KS; two aunts, Patricia Lang and Vi Burke; one great-aunt Jean Huey of Junction City, KS; two nephews, Todd Burke of Manhattan, KS and David Burke of Wamego, KS; three nieces, Ashley and Hannah Piper of McFarland, KS and Alexis Kirkham of Rushville, IN. He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Michael Burke. Funeral Services will be Tuesday, April 8, at 10:30 a.m. at Stewart Funeral Home with burial following in Wamego City Cemetery. A visitation will be held Monday evening at the funeral home from 7-8:30 p.m. A memorial has been established in Rick’s name for his son, Joshua Burke’s education fund and contributions may be left in care of Stewart Funeral Home, P.O. Box 48, Wamego, 66547.