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Lincoln-Burke Miller, 88, of Lincoln, passed away at 11:10 a.m. on Thursday, March 8, 2012 at Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital, Lincoln.

A funeral mass will be held on Monday, March 12, 2012 at 11:30 a.m. at Holy Family Church of Lincoln. Burial will be in Holy Cross Cemetery. Arrangements were entrusted to Fricke-Calvert-Schrader Funeral Home, Lincoln, IL.

Burke was born October 5, 1923 in Lincoln, the son of Leland and Catherine Burke Miller. He is survived by two children: Stephen Miller of Lincoln and Rebecca (Peter) Pirmann of Carbondale, IL

He married Carol Woods of Lincoln in 1970; his loving wife of 41 years. He is also survived by three grandchildren: Charlotte (Christopher) Johnson of Little Rock, AR; Joseph Pirmann of Anchorage, Alaska, and Abigail Kathleen Miller of Bloomington; two great granddaughters: Madeline and Faith Johnson; one sister: Margaret Miller Hickey of Atlanta, GA; three sisters-in law: Sharon (Jim) Chalkey of Streator; Bonnie (Dave) Baxter, and Gail Weiner, both of Tucson, AZ; two brothers-in law: Donny (Cindy) Woods and Danny Woods of Tucson, AZ; several nieces and nephews and a special family friend: Arthur Mount of Lincoln.

He was preceded in death by his parents, an infant sister, and an infant grandson.

Burke attended grade school and high school in Lincoln. He graduated from Carleton College in Northfield, MN in 1943 and the University of Chicago Law School in 1945. He returned to Lincoln to join his father as third generation in the family’s law firm and actively practiced until December of 1996, retiring after fifty years.

He was a long time member of Holy Family Parish. He belonged to the Illinois State Bar Association, Logan County Bar Association, the Lincoln Elks Club, Logan County Farm Bureau and Knights of Columbus. He also served on the Board of Directors of Lincoln Savings and Loan Association.

Burke had a passion for farming and enjoyed watching the crops mature. He was an avid and knowledgeable sports fan who enjoyed watching spring training baseball each year with his nephews in the warmth of the Tucson sun. He will be dearly missed by his wife, family and friends and will be remembered for his acts of simple kindness whether it be returning from the grocery store surprising his family with a bouquet of fresh flowers and a homemade pie or striking up a sports related conversation with a newly found friend. Burke’s personality radiated warmth and kindness to all who had the privilege of knowing him.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital, Lincoln.