Michael Burke Obituary

I remember him quite well! Always a warm smile, he was a very welcoming human. I am so very sorry for everyone's loss. Sending many hugs and many good deeds to others from me!

I'll always remember Michael as a warm smile and a gentle voice. So glad to have known him, and deeply saddened by his passing. He was a great human being.

Sandy, William, Cody and Darcy,
What a wonderful man was Michael! I first met Michael about 1981 when Pam Ash and I placed an add in the Herald for persons interested in starting an Irish band. That band became the Wild Geese and normally we had about 7 musicians including fiddle, guitar, bouzouki, mandolin, bodhran, dulcimer, flute, tin whistle and three vocalists. My did we have fun traveling across Colorado and New Mexico! For a year or so, we shared the stage with the West Wind Bagpipe Band, along with drums,sword dancers and others. It was kind of hard to get bookings with so many of us. That is when one group became two. Michael Burke was everything to the Wild Geese -- musician, agent, organizer and friend. One of the surprising talents of Mike was knowing what musicians were new to town, just visiting, or temporarily available. We never had a time when Michael could not find a musian to fill in when need be. As a result, the family of band -- those who played, participated and loved Irish music grew larger and larger in Durango. The Wild Geese were together for over 10 years. The Burke's Christmas parties were the absolutely best! When my daughter, Erin Rose Shine was struck by a car and died, Michael organized the music for her funeral. Mike was wise and wonderful man, and that is true of the whole Burke family. You guys are awesome! We mourn with you, and Durango has lost a very special soul. We all know that Michael helped sew a very fine fabric of music in Durango. And that shall endure. Thank you for all that you gave!
Lynn Shine

I recently ran into Micheal at the Mall-when trying for my daily 5000 steps. He told me about his health issues in his gentle way and then we parted company. A sweet man.

Sandy and the kids, I´m so sad to hear this and very sorry for your loss. Such a special person! Michael was truly one of the musical "fathers " of Durango. He created so much with his passion and drive for the music he loved that will continue on. His kind heart, quick, dry humor, and soft spoken demeanor was a powerful force. The Burke´s Christmas party was the event of the year for musicians! (+ The Meltdown) Michael, you will be greatly missed and we´re blessed to have had you as a Kindred Spirit.

Grief can be so hard, but our special memories help us cope. Remembering you and your loved one today and always.

A very nice tribute to a very nice man. Micheal was a great neighbor and a good friend. We miss him already.

Michael and I met in Grand Junction in 1979 or 1980 at a music & engineering nerd gathering. He was a Geotech Engineer and I was a Technician. He was already a seemingly seasoned folk musician and I was looking for deeper inspiration than folk-rock-pop. We made an immediate connection via these common grounds and Michael's deep curiosity and encouragement. I was new to Junction and he was heading out the door to a place called Durango. Not to worry, I caught up with Michael 2 years later and he immediately invited me to join a Celtic band that needed a guitarist: The Wild Geese. Later we helped Jack Tallmadge form the Rusty Razor String Band. Then he convinced Toby Petersen to host the Farquaharts Folk & Bluegrass Series, he and Larry Boyce were the brains behind the Durango Meltdown, Mike was always forming musical connections in this area and across the southwest. Booking gigs, oganizing events, herdoing musicians, running sound, and playing mando, fiddle and guitar. He pretty much singlehandedly informed the Colorado front range all the way down to Albuquerque about Durango's excellent and diverse acoustic music scene. Michael, you were always my musical big brother and you even forgave me for returning to my childhood instrument - the dreaded drum set. Sandy, William, Cody and Darcy please know I love you and my heart breaks for you.

I believe it was the Christmas Bluegrass/Celtic party of 1999. As always Michael and Sandy filled their home with musicians, back to back and shoulder to shoulder. It was the social event of the season. Kathy and I were new to playing music with others and we were jamming a song with Dan Phea. Michael approached us and said we should start a band. Well we hymned and hawed and said maybe. The next day I called Dan and "Ranger Rick & the Swamp Things" were born. Thank you Michael and God bless you.

How rare and how special for such a prodigious intellect to be ensconced in such a warm and welcoming soul. Every dulcet note will sail ever on across the panoply. Thank you for the kindness and for the music ... and for those three great kids!

Very very sorry. He was a very good guy. Only good memories.

I´m so saddened to hear of Michael´s passing. What a gentle soul. The annual holiday party was legendary! He will be missed greatly. My sincere condolences to Sandy and the kids.

Great Man & Great MEMORIES! xx

Sandy,
I am so sad to hear of Michael's passing. I always enjoyed his fellowship. A life well spent connecting to others.

I am so sorry to hear this. He was a great friend and fellow musician.

Sandy,
So sorry for your loss. Michael was a good friend and mentor that I admired and respected, from our early days working at the FS together in the early 1980s and playing some music, to working together on the Meltdown board in the 2000s. He was no doubt one of the smartest people I´ve ever known, and succeeded at making valuable contributions to so many. I´m sure he will be greatly missed.

Such a loss to our community. Michael was a quiet but insistent force. He made a difference in so many lived, including my own!

I met Michael Burke at his annual Christmas party in Durango 31 years ago. He invited me to join his Celtic band, The Wild Geese, and the next thing I knew, I was married to a guy I met at his party and was a thoroughly enamored Celtic musician. He and Sandy took this lonely, visiting gal into their family and community in such a kind and generous way. Michael changed the course of my life. He will be missed.

Sandy, I´m so sorry . Michael was smart and funny and so kind . He will be missed by all . A lovely tribute that captured your husband.

I first met Mike at the Silverton Jubilee when he was in the Wild Geese. A member of that band was also a member of the Durango Dulcimers, of which I joined. I was now entwined in the goings on of both bands. The Burkes held annual Christmas parties, of which the who's who of the Southwest Colorado music scene was in attendance. On the third year, a beautiful woman was in attendance, who joined the Wild Geese, which seemed to have a biannual explosion of some sorts. We promptly became friends. During the next Geese explosion, I was asked to play guitar. Mike, who had quit that year, often did sound and was more than happy to critique my guitar playing, as a budding Celtic guitarist. Half of that became Beltaine, of which I became guitarist after Beltaine exploded, and the Wild Geese disintegrated, in the continuing game of Celtic band dominoes. Karen and I became smitten, and married. So because of the Christmas parties, I met the love of my life. Because of Mike's constructive criticism and helpful hints, I became a pretty damn good Celtic guitarist. He and Sandy helped store some of our many instruments when our house was dangerously close to the approaching Missionary Ridge Fire. So much of the quality and direction of our lives in Colorado we owe to Mike And Sandy Burke. Sail on Mike...we will all gather again soon enough.

What a beautiful life and a beautiful ( and kind of funny!) memorial of him, Sandy. I'm so very sorry for your loss
Mary Oswald

I always liked Michael. he graciously allowed me to play at his annual Christmas party for years. We often sat together at the celtic festival in Aztec. He was part of our band before the folk instruments broke away to form the Wild Geese. He will be greatly missed in the Durango Celtic world
jim lynch

Thinking of you and your family, Sandy. Whoever wrote the obituary got Michael spot on, and moved me to chuckles, outright laughs and some unexpected, eye-filling tears for the "deeply kind" man I remember. So sorry for your loss of this special presence in your lives.