June 16 1936 February 2 2022
Obituary In the small farming community in Little York, Illinois, two older sisters, Laura Lee Burke and Mary Luann Burke, eagerly awaited the birth of a bright, dark-haired baby, the first boy in the family. Mom and Dad, Rev. RH Burke and Stella Burke, ministered there in a small church. Later they moved to Ustick, ID, where a younger brother, David Jonathan Burke, made the family complete. While living in Grangeville, Idaho, Sam took on his first business venture. He and his brother, David, delivered newspapers daily with Sam delivering about 100 papers to the business district. One day when Sam was passing the Hardware Store he saw a new, shiny, REO gas-powered lawn mower on display. This caught his eye because he and his brother always mowed the large church lawn. He went into the store and asked the owner if he would sell the mower to him on time. The owner asked, “What are you going to do with it?” Sam replied, “I’m going to mow lawns around town and pay for the mower.” The owner was impressed with the ambition of this twelve- year- old and said, “I’ll sell it to you and you can start by cutting my lawn.” Sam did just as he said, and paid the mower off on time. That was his first business venture, but not the last. After living in several other small towns, he graduated from Irrigon High School in Irrigon, Oregon in 1955. The following year he enrolled at Linfield College in McMinnville, Oregon. He attended college for 2 ½ years until he was drafted into the army. He took Basic Training at Fort Ord in California. After that he and his wife drove a 1951 Olds ’88 through Arizona, New Mexico and Texas to Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas, where he attended Dental Laboratory School. One daughter, Mary Elizabeth, and three years later he was discharged from the Army shortly before all tours of duty were extended for one year by President Kennedy because of the Berlin Wall Crisis. While he served he received a Marksman Badge (rifle), a Letter of Appreciation, A Good Conduct Medal and an Army Commendation Medal was presented to him by a General of the Army. He and his family returned to McMinnville where he continued his studies and another daughter, Julia Elaine, joined the family. In McMinnville, OR, he became a salesman for Miller’s Department Store’s Men’s Department. Because of his ambition and business acuity, he was invited to transfer to the Miller’s Store in Yakima, WA, as Assistant Store Manager. Within months, he was promoted to Store Manager at Miller’s in Hollywood, Portland, OR. Later he was transferred to Miller’s Department Store in Eugene, OR. By then, he was tired to being transferred and decided to leave the store, but stay in Eugene. He and Jack Larson owned an up-scale Jewelry Store which was located in the Old Eugene Hotel. Later he owned and operated ARI where he served as a CBI, Certified Business Intermediary, for 28 years. He enjoyed being part of Eugene Lions Club & Delta Rotary Club. During his Presidency, he was one of the founding members of The Great Rotary Duck Race, in Eugene, OR. Sam was a long-time member of First Baptist Church where he served many times on the Trustee Board, being chairman four times. He also sang in the choir and founded and facilitated a Men’s Bible Study for Senior Men. For a number of years he was Chairman of the Camp Harlow Committee and volunteered his time to help with Camp Harlow upkeep. Sam was married to his wonderful wife, Bonnie, in July 1988. She is a devout Christian lady, like the one spoken of in the Bible, Proverbs Chapter 31. Together they enjoyed traveling especially to Hawaii, Florida, Palm Springs, CA. and Phoenix, AZ. He had many interests, including music, college football and basketball as a spectator. He is survived by his wife, Bonnie, three daughters: Mary Irwin (Mark) of Sherman Oaks, CA; Julia Marquette (Chris) of Hillsboro, OR; Laurie Craviotto (Kevin) of Eugene; one son: Michael Burke (Louise) of Eugene, eight grandchildren and two great grandchildren; one sister: Mary Burke Williams of Highland Park, IL ; and one brother, David Burke of Buckley, WA. Preceding him in death are his parents, Rev. R. H. Burke, Stella Leora Burke, and one sister, Laura Lee Sipe McConnell. We would like to express our gratitude to The Rawlin at Riverbend in Springfield, OR for their loving, professional care of Sam during the last three months of illness. Any contributions may be sent to Camp Harlow at First Baptist Church, 3550 Fox Meadow Road, Eugene, OR 97408 To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Samuel, please visit our floral store. Read more
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Samuel James Burke June 16 1936 February 2 2022.
Death notice for the town of: La Pine, state: Oregon