Edwynn Burckle

Edwynn “Ed” Burckle, beloved father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, devoted friend, and champion of the homeless, died Saturday, February 19, 2022, at his home in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. He was 92 years old.

Ed was born on Saturday, December 7, 1929, in Louisville, Kentucky, to Muriel (Wynn) Burckle and Alton George Burckle.

Ed was a proud Louisville native who grew up in the west end of Louisville, attending grade school at Christ the King, high school at Flaget High School, and college at the University of Louisville. Ed then served as a Sergeant in the Army Reserves. In 1955, he met and married Mary Nell Knoebel, with whom he had three children.

Ed was a successful entrepreneur who had a distinguished business career. He was a natural born leader who began his career as a truck driver and salesman at Tafel Electric before becoming Vice-President at Cooper Louisville. Ed then bought the appliance distributor Woodlawn Distributing and re-branded it to create Burckle Industries. After selling his distributorship, Ed co-founded a flourishing real estate development company and was co-owner of Jefferson Development Group. With its many successful projects, including Worth Plaza, Park Place Apartments, and TaylorHurst Office Place, Ed leaves a legacy in Louisville.

A lifelong outdoorsman whose love of the ocean and mountains led Ed to fulfill his dream to live both in Colorado (since 1990) and Florida (since 1996). He loved being active and enjoyed golf, hunting, hiking, skiing, biking, and jeep trail riding. His passion, however, was fishing. Ed literally fished around the world and if you were lucky enough to fish with Ed, you experienced a rare treat. He was also a gifted natural athlete and enjoyed participating in and watching all sports.

Ed was an immediately likeable man who never met a stranger. He was the consummate gentleman with a generous, giving, and friendly personality. His family and friends will forever remember his quick, witty humor and affectionate teasing. His proudest accomplishment was as the benefactor of Burckle Place, the supportive housing program established in Palm Beach County in 2013 to help single, homeless women rebuild their lives through support services and wellness programs.

Ed is preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Alton George Burckle. He is mourned by his three children, Mary Wynn “Wendy” Glidden (John), Christopher Clark Burckle (Jill), and Adam Matthew Burckle (Mary Lee). Ed also leaves his cherished grandchildren, Matthew and Christopher Glidden, and step-grandchild BJ (Wendy and John); Caroline, Clark, and Collin Burckle (Chris and Jill); and Erin and Leanna Burckle (Adam and Mary Lee). Ed also is survived by four (soon to be five) great grandchildren, Elijah, Theo, and Noah Glidden (Matthew and Valentina); Mila Glidden (Christopher and Maria); and step-great grandchildren, Keaganne, Kaelynn, and Kinnley (BJ and Mary).

In place of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Ed’s honor to his cherished Burckle Place, c/o The Lord’s Place, P.O. Box 3265, West Palm Beach, FL 33402. Online donations may be made at thelordsplace.org. The family will be having a private celebration of Ed’s life in both Colorado and Florida and plans will be forthcoming. Ed will be dearly missed by his family and dear friends, and the Burckle Place family.