Our dad, Gordon Lufkin Burke, 82, passed away peacefully on Sunday, October 18th, 2026, at Fairfield Village Assisted Living in Layton, Utah.

Dad was born on January 28th, 1944, in Idaho Falls, Idaho. He loved being an "Idaho spud" as he always put it. He loved telling stories from his years growing up on the farm with his siblings. He had a great love of farm life. So much so that he raised his kids on a 2-acre hobby farm in Taylor, Utah, where there were always a variety of animals, a large garden, and a lasso to chase the kids and catch them with. He built a fun treehouse for us, taught us how to take care of the animals, including things we were less than thrilled to do and likely should have been done by a veterinarian. Dad was very practical about getting things done, even if that meant letting a farm animal use the shower because he needed it clean. We all experienced opening a door to be unexpectedly met by an animal, including a baby antelope who had tragically lost its mother. Dad had a soft spot for all animals and brought home many orphaned or lost animals from his travels, even if that meant they were in the back of his truck with his brand-new vacuums he was trying to sell. When Dad asked you to come help with something or to tag along with him to run an errand for the farm you never knew what you were about to experience or witness. He always kept us on our toes. 

If there was one thing that Dad knew how to do it was to work. His work ethic was next level. He was always on the move and getting things done. He instilled in us kids that if you have somewhere to be you better be there and if you have a responsibility, you better do it. Dad started selling Electrolux vacuums door-to-door in 1963 and if you asked him, he never retired, despite our best efforts to get him to. To the very end he was still storing and hauling vacuum parts around and attempting to fix one for anyone that needed it done. His voicemail still says, "This is Gordon, with Electrolux..." He won multiple trips and awards as a top salesman and had quite a successful career traveling all over Utah, Idaho, Wyoming, Montana and beyond. We are all very grateful to him for his efforts to provide for his family through such hard work.

As hard as Dad worked, he played just as hard. Dad always was full of energy and loved being the life of the party and the center of attention. He loved playing games of any kind, swimming, snowmobiling, horseback riding, bowling, you name it he was game. He was always up for action and us kids knew it. As children, when we knew Dad was coming through the front door we would leap from the top of the stairs down to him on the landing. He always caught us whether he was prepared to do so or not. Then he was stuck there for several minutes as we all took turns jumping over and over. That was usually followed by a robust tickle and wrestling match. We went full throttle until someone cried but we always went back for more again and again. He was a thrill seeker, and he loved taking people along for the ride. Whether it was on a jet ski, a snowmobile, a horse, or a motorcycle, etc. you were always filled with immense relief when you were finally thrown from the ride and survived. Even some of his golfing buddies felt the same way when he drove the golf carts. We loved dancing with dad around the house. He was larger than life with "personality plus".

Even though Dad was gone a lot, it felt like he was always there and around when you needed him. When he was home, he was engaged with us. The quality of the time together outpaced the quantity of time and made all the difference. Despite not having a cell phone during the majority of those years Dad was always there and available, whether you drove the car into the ditch on the way to school on a snowy day, had a game or a track meet somewhere, or needed help writing and practicing a talk for church. He enjoyed attending any event a kid or grandkid was involved in.

Dad had a love for good, HOT food. He had a robust appetite up until the last couple of days. We used to tease him that he should get a rotating heated pizza plate to keep his food super-hot while he ate it. When it was time to eat everyone had better be seated and ready for prayer or we would all hear about it. He hated to see anything go to waste and didn't let that happen on his watch, no matter where he was. If he was coming to visit you better have something ready to offer him because he was always ready to eat. Even in his journal from when he was 15 years old, he would write, "...dinner was good. Compliments to Mother." He especially had a love for Fruit Salad, Kentucky Fried Chicken and Chuck-a-Rama. He has said many times that when he gets to the other side and he looks left down the street and right down the street and if he doesn't see a Chuck-a-Rama then he isn't in Heaven. We hope you found the heavenly location quickly, Dad, and that you feel right at home.

Dad loved beautiful and colorful things. Whether it was scenery, flowers, a beautiful dress, etc. If it was what he would consider drab, he would say, "Put some color on it!" He didn't like being reminded that brown was a color during those conversations. Dad loved movies, especially ones that were based on true stories and were heartfelt. He had a special love for Neil Diamond and The Jazz Singer. None of us kids can hear that music without thinking about Dad and how for years that was the soundtrack to every long drive we had. It didn't matter if it was dark out and us kids were asleep; he would crank the volume up and before long we were all "singing" along and getting hyped up again. Dad was very charismatic and social. Going out in public with Dad was always an adventure, especially in the later years, you never knew what he was going to say or do. He was a friend to all and if you didn't know him yet, you were about to. So many people have said, "Your dad is one of a kind, I have never met anyone else like him!" And boy, were they right! Dad was very memorable and we will miss getting new memories and stories of him, but we are so grateful for the many, many that we do have.

Dad was a faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He served a mission in the South Germany mission and always spoke fondly about his time serving. He held various callings throughout his life and served many years as a service missionary at the Cannery in Harrisville, Utah. Dad loved to serve people in any capacity. It didn't matter if someone needed him up and somewhere at 4 a.m. he was there without complaint. Always willing to give a helping hand.

Dad served many years in the Idaho National Guard. He was always very proud of his time served in the National Guard.

Dad is survived by his seven children; Louis (Kim) Burke, Lani (Roger) Whitlock, Joseph (Shelley) Burke, Heidi (Travis) Muirbrook, Jennifer (Ryan) Skidmore, Travis (Sarah) Burke, Ronda (Nathaniel) Mills, 23 grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, and his brothers; Morris (Meria) Burke, Steve (Sandra) Burke, and sister, LaRue Dennis. He was preceded in death by his parents, Samuel Lamar and Norma Lufkin Burke, his brother, Marlin, and his brother-in-law Richard Dennis.

A viewing will be held on Saturday, October 24th, 2026, from 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm at Leavitt's Mortuary & Aultorest Memorial Park at 836 36th St. Ogden, Utah. Following that a private luncheon, catered of course by Chuck-a-Rama, and a Celebration of Life will be held for the family. Interment will be on Wednesday, October 28th, 2026, in his hometown of Annis, Idaho.