William J. “Bill” Burke

William J. Burke, affectionately known as “Bill,” passed away on Sunday, November 1st at the VA Medical Center in West Roxbury, MA. Bill fought a 10-year battle with COPD and would eventually succumb to his illness. Bill was widowed by his wife, Karen, in 2023 and his third born child, Michael, pre-deceased him in 2021. Bill is survived by three out of four of his adult children, 10 grandchildren, 1 sister, 2 nieces, and 3 nephews.

Bill was born and raised on Pearl St. in Braintree, MA. His childhood was full of explorations, riverside adventures on the Monatiquot river, and running and playing down by the railroad tracks. He once stated that his childhood reminded him of the Adventures of Tom Sawyer. In high school, he played the drums on a drum and bugle team, ran cross country, and excelled in gymnastics. He graduated from Braintree High School in 1967. He was drafted to the U.S. Army on February 5th, 1968 and served in the Vietnam War from March 1969 to May 1970 in the Army Security Agency.

Prior to leaving for the Army, he met his future wife, Karen A. MacNeill at the Surf Nightclub at Nantasket Beach in Hull, MA. Bill was known for practical jokes, quietly slipping in and out of social gatherings without being noticed, ghost stories, and putting in long hours at his self-employed commercial refrigeration business. He was very fond of animals and nature. His first child, Jeffrey, was born while Bill and Karen were stationed in Bavaria, Germany after his tour in Vietnam. After separating from the Army in 1972, he saved up to purchase a home by working two jobs: General Dynamics in Quincy, MA and moonlighting at Lynwood Cafe in Randolph, MA. They purchased their first and only home on Woodlawn Street in Randolph, MA in 1975. Bill and Karen would go on to have three more children: Leanne, Michael, and James. After many years of being self-employed, Bill accepted an overnight position at New England Sinai Hospital in Stoughton, MA as a maintenance man. Bill will forever be in our hearts.

The family has decided to make funeral services private but are very grateful for all those who have reached out to pay their respects.