Burke, Carl Eugene

It is with a heavy heart that we announce that Carl Eugene Burke, 93, of Blacksburg, passed away on Sunday, June 5th after a long and full life. Carl was born on July 25th, 1928 to Richard and Emma Thiel Burke in Medina, NY.

After Carl graduated from high school in 1948, he served four years in the US Air Force. Afterwords, he attended Niagra University, receiving a degree in accounting.

Following graduation, he started work at Haskins and Sells in Buffalo, NY. Five years later, he took a job as an auditor for Cornell University. In 1965, he came to Virginia Tech and worked in the accounting office, working his way up to Assistant Vice President for Finance and University Comptroller, and Assistant Vice president for University Affairs. He retired in 1993, but continued working with Virginia Tech for several more years as needed.

In 1960, Carl met Elsa “Kicki” Gronlund at Lake George, NY, and they married on February 4th, 1961 in Bronxville, NY. Carl and Kicki went on to have two children, Matt and Christine.

After Carl retired, he enjoyed golf and racquetball. He was active in the Blacksburg Kiwanis Club, and as a long-time volunteer at the Montgomery County Christmas store, in charge of the men’s senior section. He was a very active member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church, and on the Board of Directors of Warm Hearth Retirement Community.

Carl was a loving, gentle, and extremely patient father and grandfather. He devoutly believed that education is the key to achieving your potential, and did everything in his power to insure that his children and grandchildren had the love and support to further their education. From doing math problems with the grandchildren at a young age, to encouraging them to pursue advanced degrees

Carl was predeceased by his brother Bob, his sister Mary, his wife Kicki, and his son Matt. He is survived by his sister Helen Huver, his daughter Christine and her husband Patrick Brady, and his grandchildren Callie Secrist, Emma and her husband Ben Webster, and Thiel Secrist.

A visitation will be held Thursday, June 9th, from 6 until 8 in the evening at McCoy Funeral Home, and a Funeral Mass will be held Friday, June 10th at 2PM at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Blacksburg. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Montgomery County Christmas Store, PO Box 6154, Christiansburg, VA 24068.