Neil Edmund Burke

He is survived by three sons (Ed, Kent, and Doug), two ex-wives (Liz and Joanne), three step-children (Merrilly, Liz, and Shane), a veritable hoard of grandchildren, and even a couple great grandchildren. And that's not even going into the many lives he touched and befriended over the years.

Born and raised in Fairfield, Alabama, the son of Ralph and Mary Burke, he attended college at Auburn University, graduating with his Engineering degree in 1956. He then served as an officer in the US Navy, attaining the rank of Lieutenant before his hitch in the reserve was over.

Neil first moved west thanks to his employer, Chicago Bridge & Iron (who weren't based in Chicago, didn't make bridges, and didn't use iron) in 1970, becoming a long-term resident of the Salt Lake Valley in Utah, living everywhere from Holladay to Kearns to Murray. In 1985, he was laid off from CBI and got a job as a civilian working at Hill Air Force Base, where he worked until he retired. Upon retirement, he realized he hated Utah winters so much that he was more than willing to retire down to Arizona summers. After all, at least it was a dry heat.

He was an avid member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Eagles, and the VFW, never hesitating to offer his assistance in any charity work they might be involved in. He was particularly proud of his work with the Elks ands their Camp Wapiti.

A voracious reader and lover of history, Neil shared these interests with his children and anyone else who might be interested in a great conversation or even just a little trivia.

An indifferent athlete, he not only broke his collar bone during flight school in the Navy, but was known to comment that he wished he could trade his bowling and golf scores.

A memorial service will be held Friday, July 26th, 2019, in Mesa, Arizona. Additional services will also be held in Utah Saturday, August 3rd, 2019 at 3:00 pm at the Bountiful Elks in Bountiful, UT. In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to any of the organization listed above, as they could always use the help, and it's what he would have done.