Obituary of Harry B. Burke

Harry Burrows Burke died peacefully at his home in West Bloomfield, MI on November 25, 2015 at the age of 81. He was born August 17, 1934 in Los Angeles, CA to Viola Burrows and moved to Michigan as a young child, which became his life-long home. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Michigan in 1958 and remained a booster of U of M throughout his life. He married Margaret Anne Button, daughter of Robert Button and Dorothy Geiger, on September 1962 in Detroit. Harry built a career in automotive sales with a specialty in leasing. He began at Floyd Foren Chevrolet in Ferndale, where he was named General Manager in 1969. In 1986, he launched his own car leasing company, Harry Burke, Inc., based out of Royal Oak. He finished his career as the leasing manager at Jack Cauley Chevrolet in West Bloomfield, during which time he was recognized as a leader in regional automotive sales. Upon retirement, he served as a volunteer for the Farmington Hills Public Library and as a vestry member of the Trinity in the Woods church of Farmington Hills. He was a longtime member of the Ferndale chapter of The Rotary Foundation of Rotary International, where he served as President from 1981-1982 and was named a Paul Harris Fellow in 1985. He is survived by his beloved wife of fifty-three year, M. Anne; his children Denise (and husband Gary), James (and wife Jennifer) and DeAnne; and his seven grandchildren Emma, Olivia, Davis, Trevor, Jamison, Graham and Phoebe. He is predeceased by his brother Edward (and wife Jeanne) and his sister Diana (and husband Raymond). A Celebration of Life ceremony will be held on Saturday, December 19, at 10:00am at Trinity in the Woods, 26880 La Muera Street, Farmington Hills, MI 48334 (#248-474-2860). Guests unable to attend the celebration are encouraged to sign Harry's guestbook at www.cremationmichigan.com The family kindly requests no flowers. Memorial gifts may be made in Harry's honor to: Alzheimer Association www.alz.org/join_the_cause_donate.asp or Trinity Episcopal Church 26880 La Muera Street Farmington Hills, MI 48334