Donald Elwyn "Don" Burke

Donald Elwyn Burke was born November 18, 1932 in Earlville, IA, and passed away peacefully from a stroke on June 7, 2022 at the Overland Park, KS Regional Hospital at the age of 89.

Don graduated Earlville High School in 1951, where he played basketball and sang in the choir. Upon graduation, his sister Agnes introduced him to her new young friend from Madison, Wisconsin named Evelyn Brigham. They were married shortly after at the Little Brown Church in the Vale (in Iowa), and eventually had three children. Don pursued his career in raising laboratory research animals (rats, mice and hamsters). They lived in numerous cities and states throughout Iowa, Wisconsin, Arizona, Texas, Illinois, New York, and for a short time in Puerto Rico. When that industry collapsed in 1971, they moved back to Madison, Wisconsin, where Don followed his brother Loren into long-haul trucking, retiring from Schneider International Trucking, based out of Green Bay. Don and Evelyn were married 70 years.

Don and Evelyn were long-time residents of Hancock, Wisconsin, living on the family tree farm, B-Kin Land. Don was ordained as a lay minister (an Elder) in the RLDS Church (Community of Christ). The family remained active in their church community wherever they lived. Don and Evelyn were avid campers, traveling around the United States to visit family and National Parks. After retirement from full-time work, they enjoyed taking farm tours around the United States with both the Wisconsin Woodlands and Homemakers Associations. They also traveled to visit family and friends in Ireland, England, Hawaii and Australia. In 2019, they relocated to Overland Park, KS to the Brookdale Independent Living Facility, closer to most of their family. Don had a knack for orchestrating his trucking runs so that he arrived at the hospital on the day of each of his first five grandchildren's births, most of whom were present as he passed.

Don was preceded in death by his siblings Loren Burke, Amy Sams, Walter [Bud] Burke, and Bob Burke. He is survived by his wife Evelyn Burke, a sister Agnes (Dot) Hinman, children Kim (and Nancy) Burke, Tary (and Mark) Stayton, Cindy (and William) Hensley, seven grandchildren, and 11 great grandchildren, and numerous close nieces and nephews. Don never knew a stranger.

A visitation will be held on Monday, June 20, 2022 from 1-2pm. His funeral service will begin at 2pm with burial to follow at Lobb Cemetery. In lieu of flowers the family has asked that donations be made to the Hope House in memory of Don.

Service will be livestreamed. Please see Webcast link below.