William Daniel Burke

Arizona. He was born on July 8, 1950 in New York to John and Rosemary Burke. He attended Albertus

Magnus High School and graduated from St. Louis University in 1972.

Bill proudly served in the Air Force and Illinois Air National Guard from 1973 to 1994. During his service,

he flew the T-38, A-37, and F16. In September 1994, he ejected from his F-16 due to catastrophic engine

failure and miraculously walked away without a scratch. He retired as a Lieutenant Colonel. Bill's passion

for flying also led him to a successful career as a commercial airline pilot for Ozark Airlines, America

West, US Air, and American Airlines, where he retired as a Captain in 2015.

Bill was happiest when he was in the air, fulfilling his dream of becoming the Sky King. He loved the dry

heat of Arizona, where he had lived for the past 30 years, and was a huge Arizona Cardinals fan. His

larger-than-life personality and epic stories made him the life of every party and his Burke-isms will live

on forever.

Bill is survived by his son Kevin Burke, and daughter Shannon (Mike) Gansler; his siblings Laura (Glenn)

Armitage, John (Carol) Burke, and Michael (Drew) Burke; nieces Stacey (Chris) Normand, and Lisa (Mark)

Franzman; grand niece Lyla Normand and grand nephew Ryder Franzman. He is also remembered with

great affection by countless family members and friends including Bill Duggan and Barbara Wix. He was

preceded in death by his parents.

Bill’s wish was to be cremated. He will be privately interred at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in St. Louis, Missouri. We invite you to celebrate his memory in your own ways. All are welcome to post memories and final words here as well as on his Facebook page. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his honor to The Honor Flight Network, Paralyzed Veterans of America, or the charity of your choice. “Though my soul will shed in darkness, it will rise in perfect light. I have loved the stars too fondly, to be fearful of the night.”