Burke Miller 1923-2012
Burke Miller, 88, Lincoln, died at 11:10 a.m. Thursday (March 8, 2012) at Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital, Lincoln.
Burke was born Oct. 5, 1923, in Lincoln, the son of Leland and Catherine Burke Miller.
Burke attended grade school and high school in Lincoln. He graduated from Carleton College in Northfield, Minn., in 1943 and the University of Chicago Law School in 1945. He returned to Lincoln to join his father as third generation in the family’s law firm and actively practiced until December 1996, retiring after 50 years.
He was a longtime member of Holy Family Parish. He belonged to the Illinois State Bar Association, Logan County Bar Association, Lincoln Elks Club, Logan County Farm Bureau and Knights of Columbus. He also served on the board of directors of Lincoln Savings and Loan Association.
Burke had a passion for farming and enjoyed watching the crops mature. He was an avid and knowledgeable sports fan who enjoyed watching spring training baseball each year with his nephews in the warmth of the Tucson sun.
He will be dearly missed by his wife, family and friends, and will be remembered for his acts of simple kindness, whether it be returning from the grocery store surprising his family with a bouquet of fresh flowers and a homemade pie, or striking up a sports-related conversation with a newly found friend. Burke’s personality radiated warmth and kindness to all who had the privilege of knowing him.
He is survived by two children, Stephen Miller, Lincoln, and Rebecca (Peter) Pirmann, Carbondale.
He married Carol Woods of Lincoln in 1970; his loving wife of 41 years. He is also survived by three grandchildren: Charlotte (Christopher) Johnson, Little Rock, Ark.; Joseph Pirmann, Anchorage, Alaska; and Abigail Kathleen Miller, Bloomington; two great-granddaughters, Madeline and Faith Johnson; one sister, Margaret Miller Hickey, Atlanta, Ga.; three sisters-in-law, Sharon (Jim) Chalkey, Streator; Bonnie (Dave) Baxter and Gail Weiner, both of Tucson, Ariz.; two brothers-in-law, Donny (Cindy) Woods and Danny Woods, Tucson, Ariz.; several nieces and nephews; and a special family friend, Arthur Mount, Lincoln.
He was preceded in death by his parents, an infant sister, and an infant grandson.