Robert F. Burke

Robert Francis Burke
May 31, 1927 - August 9, 2025
Robert Francis Burke, 98, of Lincolnshire, IL (formerly of Deerfield and Destin, FL), passed
away peacefully on Saturday, August 9, 2025. Bob was preceded in death by his college
sweetheart and loving wife of 72 years Sally Ann Burke and his beloved daughter Judy Pantle.
Born and raised in East Walpole, Massachusetts, Bob, a ectionately known as "Bucky", was a studious and athletic child. He was a member of Walpole High School's state champion ice hockey team and also lettered in baseball and golf. His youthful misadventures included sledding into a not quite frozen river and being caught outside when the Great 1938 Hurricane roared through Massachusetts.
Bob served in the United States Navy during World War II aboard the USS Cummings. He
received a BBA Degree in Marketing from the University of Michigan in 1951 where he was a
member of the ice hockey team and Delta Upsilon Fraternity.
Bob began his successful career with sales and marketing positions at Ditto and Bell & Howell, where he served as Director of Marketing. He co-founded Illinois Business Systems, Inc. in 1974. He balanced his demanding career with a rich family life. Family dinners with his wife and six children were usually lengthy a airs, with Bob often encouraging each of the children to talk about their days. Bob was wise, supportive, humble, and generous. He was and always will be a wonderful role model to his children and grandchildren. He will be remembered most for his sense of humor and quick wit.
Bob especially enjoyed summer trips to Cape Cod with the family to visit his siblings and
parents, supporting his children at their athletic events, and family holiday gatherings in
Deerfield with his children and grandchildren. He also enjoyed playing golf with his wife Sally and his buddies at Four Winds and Lake Blu Golf Club, the beach and ocean views in Destin, Florida, and the many wonderful post-retirement adventures with Sally in Europe.
Those left behind to cherish his memory include his surviving children, Nancy (Steve) Benton; Cathy (the late Chris) Geiger; Barbara Roman; Jim (Sara) Burke; and Maureen (Jon) Dankle, and his son-in-law Ken Pantle. His grandchildren include Katie (Derek) Beane; Michael (Michelline) Benton; Steve (Shelby) Benton; Rob Pantle (Alicia Alonzo); Christine (Aaron) Moss; Carolyn (Nick) Kroll; Sarah Roman (Eric Dhom); Philip Roman; Melissa (Kurt) Beinlich; Alison (Trent) Haswell; Katelyn (Jon) Kaplan; Sally (Sam) Babick; John Ross Burke (Maria Melara); Eric (Jenna) Dankle; Michelle (John) Boarini; and Brian Dankle. Bob is also survived by nineteen great-grandchildren with one more on the way.
A visitation will be held on Tuesday, August 19th, starting at 10 am until funeral Mass starting at 11 am at St. Patrick Church (New) - 950 W Everett Road, Lake Forest, IL. A private family burial will take place after the service. Memorials may be directed to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.