Ronald Burke

Ron Burke passed away from COVID on December 12th at Bryan Medical Center with his family at his side. Ron was born on December 5, 1947, in Grand Forks, North Dakota to Lois and Raymond Burke. He graduated from Grand Forks Central High School in 1965 and soon after enlisted in the North Dakota Army National Guard. Ron continued to serve his country for 28 years in both North Dakota and Nebraska.

Ron spent his life in the food service and hospitality business. He was working in a restaurant by the time he was fifteen and went on to work in and manage restaurants while getting a degree in Hotel, Restaurant, and Institutional Management from the University of Minnesota Crookston. Ron became an Assistant Director of Dining Services at the University of North Dakota (UND) in 1980 and held that position for the next nine years. He then chose a different direction and earned a degree in Marketing Education from UND. However, missing the food service business, he applied for and got the Manager of Food Stores position at the University of Nebraska Lincoln in 1991. Ron went on to become the Director of Dining Services and Summer Conferences for University Housing, retiring in 2018. Ron loved that position and he especially loved the people with whom he worked.
Surviving family members: wife, Charlotte; children: Sean Burke (Karla), Berthoud, CO; Erica Burke, Lincoln; Misty Burke, Cavalier, ND; step-children: Dan Johnson (Lori), Thief River Falls, MN; Ann Johnson, Lincoln; Brian Johnson (Sara), Omaha. Grandchildren: Jonathon, Elizabeth, Lauren, Joshua, Cole, Carley, Aidan, Brynn, Alex, Maggie, and Audrey. Brothers: Gerald, Wadena, MN; Pat, Mike, Steve (Lynette Lunde), Grand Forks, ND; Paul (Bonnie), East Grand Forks, MN. Several nieces and nephews.
Ron enjoyed buying and selling cars, building projects, making Jeff Bezos richer, surprising people with gifts, going to concerts, and especially spoiling his grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held at St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church, 1015 Lancaster Lane, Lincoln, NE on Tuesday, December 20th at 2:00 p.m. Memorials may be given to the family for designation to the causes most important to Ron.