Daniel Michael Burke

Daniel Michael Burke was born to Donald Gene and Mary-Margaret Burke on August 21, 1958 in Oak Park, IL and Passed away on April 15, 2018 at the age of 59. Dan was a very out going guy who loved to entertain people above all else and he had a gift of being able to take a microphone and capture a crowd. And he was very involved in the community.

He first came to Machesney Park, IL area on the weekends to DJ, for a new Night Club called “Blue Suede Shoes”. This was an Entertaining Club that played 50’s and 60’s style music. Dan enjoyed entertaining and was very good at his job. This is where he met his future wife Belinda Cunningham, who enjoyed coming to the night club so much, that she decided to work there. Dan soon moved to Machesney Park, IL and married on October 18, 1986. They had two sons Donald Scott, and William Jesse, a.k.a Woody.

Dan decided to leave Blue Suede Shoes except on Special Occasions such as on “New Year’s Eve”, where he played “Baby New Year”. He may have left Blue Suede Shoes, but he did not leave the entertainment arena. He worked at WREX TV Channel 13, as a camera man, and worked on many special news events, as well as “The Jerry Lewis’s Telethon” for many years. He also worked at WROK/WZOK Talk Radio, hosting the Sports Shows Broadcasted on WROK part time. He then found himself working for Lifetouch Publishing Company, working with Osha as a safety officer with the company. His last job he was worked as an “Environmental Health and Safety Officer” for Rockford Products where he finally left due to declining health.

In his spare time, he would procure and line up entertainers/companies to be on guests on several of the area Radio Stations that Dan worked with. He was also instrumental in helping many organizations with promotion such as “Harlem Community Center”, “Carlson’s Boys and Girls Club”, “Harlem High School Baseball & Football Teams”, “Cheese Burger in Paradise”, “Chili Shoot Out”.

This did not stop him because he kept him busy, with what he loved most camping, fishing, entertaining and being involved with his sons sporting activities for Carlson’s Boys Club Football/Baseball and as his boys got older he helped organize and fund raise and cheer on his sons sporting activities at Harlem High School.

He grew up in Chicago and when he met and married Belinda he was introduced to a whole new way of life. Camping, fishing and boating. He loved to spend weekends at their camper that was parked at “The Chalet” at Yellowstone Park in Argyle, WI, he especially loved preparing for the 4th of July ‘’.

He is survived by his wife Belinda and his two sons Donald and William Burke and his sister Donna Marie Burke and his grandson Corbin Jaxson Burke. He is predeceased by his father Donald Gene Burke, Mary-Margaret (Burke) Schmal.

Dan will always be remembered by his larger than life personality and hopefully he is finally at peace and pain free. He will be missed greatly by all lives that he touched.

Celebration of Life Memorial Service at 1 p.m. on Saturday April 21 at Sunset Funeral Home, 8800 N. Alpine Rd, Machesney Park. Pastor Bobby Sheets is officiating the service. Visitation at noon until time of service. Burial will be at a later date.