Carl Emil Burke Jr.

Carl Emil Burke Junior was born in Muskegon, Michigan, on October 12, 1941, and grew up in Livonia Michigan. Like three of his four siblings, Carl attended Michigan State University and remained a proud Spartan throughout his life. He followed in his father’s footsteps and became an engineer at Chrysler. But inspired by watching the Rose Bowl during the frigid Michigan winters, he moved with his wife Gerri Dandurand and three young children to San Jose, CA in 1973. He travelled widely in his career as a successful computer hard drive salesman, once renting cars in four cities in a single day. He moved to Escondido in the mid 90’s with his second wife, Joyce Burke who died in 2002. He remained in San Diego County and met and married Rose Giordano Burke in 2004 joining a close-knit family he grew to love. He was an avid horse racing fan and skilled hold-em poker player. He loved the game of golf and especially enjoyed playing with his good friend, Robert Quisquis. Moonlight Beach was his favorite hangout, and he instilled his love for beach volleyball in his three children.

He is preceded in death by his, father, Carl Burke Sr. and mother, Helen (Doppel) Burke, brother David Lee Burke and sister Helen Elizabeth Burke. He is survived by his wife, Rose Giordano Burke, three children, Monica Burke Goldberg, Carl Emil Burke lll, and Mathew Aaron Burke and two brothers, Mark Allen, and John Stephen Burke. He had four stepchildren, Kelly Reynolds, Philip, Gabriel, and Kristian Giordano and thirteen grandchildren, Lucy, Josiah and Sadie Goldberg, Ian Orion Burke, Amber Brianna Landcaster Burke, AJ Reynolds, Caleb, Isabella, Nicolette, Gabriel, Kristian, Rocco, and Gianni Giordano, whom he loved dearly. He was also survived by several nieces and nephews who gave him great joy as well. We all will miss his sarcastic unconventional personality that kept everyone on their toes and his long-winded life stories. His memory will stay with us forever. May he rest in peace.

A Memorial Celebration will be held at a later date. Contact the family for further information. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in honor of Carl Burke Jr. to:

Sonata Healthcare, 5333 Mission Center Road #210, San Diego, CA 92108