William Arthur “Bill” Burke, 96, of White Lake, formerly of Farmington Hills, MI, passed away on May 13, 2025.

Bill was born October 7, 1928 in Dorchester, MA, the son of Francis and Rose (Doherty) Burke. After graduating from Hyde Park High School in 1946, he went on to work at John Hancock Life Insurance Company as an insurance underwriter. Bill served in the Army from 1951 until his honorable discharge in 1953. He earned a Bachelor of Business Administration Degree in Accounting from Northeastern University and attended courses at Bentley College of Accounting and Finance while returning to work at John Hancock, retiring as a Vice President in 1988.

Bill married Mildred Surette, the love of his life, after she chased him until he caught her on October 16, 1954 at St. Ambrose Church in Dorchester, MA. The couple lived in Dorchester and Weymouth, MA before moving to Arlington Heights, Illinois and Farmington Hills, Michigan, where they spent their years raising their family.

Bill especially loved sports. While in high school, Bill played football, basketball, and baseball. He played semi-pro baseball and football as a young adult, and spent days on the golf course and the rest of his hours enjoying watching his grandchildren play various sports.

Bill and Mildred were avid travelers, and Bill enjoyed sharing stories of their many travels, including to Ireland, Germany, Hawaii, Italy, and Switzerland. Bill enjoyed listening to Irish music and was known to sing Irish songs like “Paddy- McGinty’s Goat” and “Who Put the Overalls in Mrs. Murphy’s Chowder” to his grandchildren.

Bill was a parishioner of St. Fabian’s Church in Farmington Hills for many years.

Remaining to cherish Bill’s memory are his spouse, Mildred; children Brian and wife Carolyn of Belchertown, MA, Janice and husband Charles Kirschke of Columbia, SC, Karen Brewer of Waterford, MI and Gail Burke of Chelsea, MI.; grandchildren Michael (Rachael) Kirschke, Ryan Kirschke, Kevin (Sarahi) Kirschke, Carolyn (Joseph) Narvaez, William (Erika) Brewer, Rosemary Brewer, Stephen Brewer, Kelley Burke, James Burke, Brendan Burke, Kathryn Burke, Mare (Tyler) Miller, Samir (Taylor) Almhiemid, Hannah Almhiemid, and Melina Almhiemid. He leaves eleven great grandchildren, as well as brother Arthur Burke and a sister Virginia Pender, both of Massachusetts.

Preceding William in death are his parents Francis and Rose, and brothers Francis Jr, Robert, and Paul Burke and grandson Joseph Brewer.

Mr. Burke will lie in state Tuesday, May 20th, at 11:30 a.m. until the time of his Funeral Mass at 12:30 p.m. at St. Fabian Catholic Church, 32200 W. 12 Mile Road, Farmington Hills. He will be laid to rest in Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, Southfield.