William Charles "Bill" Burke

William Charles Burke, Jr., 60, of Battle Creek died peacefully at Bronson Battle Creek on Wednesday, December 30, 2015.

Bill was born June 3, 1955 in Battle Creek to the Honorable William Charles and Margaret (Mark) Burke. He attended elementary school at St. Joseph and was the 1973 class president of St. Philip Catholic Central. Bill received his Associate Degree from Kellogg Community College and graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Aquinas College in Grand Rapids.

Bill remains deeply loved by his surviving sisters, Kathleen Burke of Cocoa Beach, Florida, Anne and James Norlander of Battle Creek, and Ellen and Richard Hartnett of Sarasota, Florida. He will be especially missed by his nieces and nephews and their spouses, Sara and Walt Lentz, Josh and Kristin Loye, Adam and Christa Norlander, Jane and Jonathan Harrell, and their families, Marin, Quinn Margaret and Grant Norlander, Charlie and Luke Lentz, Evan and Brynn Harrell and Michael and Samuel Loye. Bill was preceded in death by his parents.

Bill was a lifelong member of St. Joseph Catholic Church. He was a devout Catholic and prayed the Rosary daily. Bill enjoyed attending retreats at St. Francis Retreat Center in DeWitt, MI and enjoyed the mystic and history of Padre Pio. He was an avid Notre Dame football and Detroit Tigers fan. Bill also participated in the numerous activities at Calhoun Medical Care Facility.

Friends are invited to recite the Rosary at 4:30 pm Friday, January 8, 2016, at the Farley Estes Dowdle Funeral Home & Cremation Care and where friends will be received by Bill's family from 5:00 pm to 7:00 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Joseph Catholic Church by Rev. Christopher J. Derda at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, January 9,2016. A private burial for the family is planned at a later date.

In lieu of flowers or memorial donations, please offer your friendship or perform an act of kindness to someone in need. Personal messages for the family may be placed here at www.farleyestesdowdle.com.