4/14/1947 – 1/30/2016
Lawrence
In honor and loving memory of the 10th year of the passing of Richard F. Burke, Jr, known lovingly by all as Ric.
Our Ric, was born April 14th, 1947, in Dodge City Ks. His early years were spent in Garden City, Ks, St Joseph, Mo, and Topeka, Ks. Following 2 years in the Marines, he settled and stayed here in Lawrence. He finally lost his years-long battle with cancer on January 30th, 2016. His final few months were spent in Wichita Falls, Tx, where he was cherished, and loved, and still sorely missed, by his sister, niece, nephews and their families.
He was a beloved resident of Lawrence from 1972 to 2015. Ric had to hold some sort of record for the vast number of houses he lived in in Lawrence, and the many, many girlfriends he had over the decades. Another record of Ric’s was the dozens of careers he tried his hand at, from childcare, to the restaurant business, to the construction industry, to his final career of selling real estate. His greatest record, though, had to be for the amazing number of friends he made, and kept for life, during the decades he lived in, and truly loved Lawrence. Though his final months were not lived in Lawrence, it is where his heart and his soul firmly remained.
Ric, you are missed, you are loved, and you are remembered for your joy in life, your laughter, your kindness, and your generosity. Your spirit will forever live on in every ray of sunshine, every sparkle of the stars, every sight and sound of nature, and every sweet song of birds (especially cardinals). May the rituals and spiritual nature of the Hopi Indian tribe, who you so strongly connected with, carry your spirit on the wind through all eternity.
Ric lived the life he wanted, and he loved it dearly, till the very end. Rest in peace, our beloved Ric.
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