Elwood D. Burke, 81, of Horton, Kansas, passed away on September 14, 2011 at the Maple Heights Nursing Home and Rehabilitation Center in Hiawatha, Kansas. He was born in Horton, Kansas on February 10, 1930 the son of Robert and Zora Pepple Burke.

Elwood lived in the Horton area until he met JoAnn Zeit at the Everest Creamery where they both worked. They married on June 25, 1952 at the St. Mary's Catholic in Purcell, Kansas. They made their home in Council Bluffs, Iowa before returning to the family farm in Purcell, Kansas where Elwood engaged in farming and was a stockman in the Huron area. In 1980 they moved to Horton where he worked in home construction. Elwood later was employed by USD 430 school district as a custodian for Everest Middle School and the Horton Elementary School until retirement.

He is survived by three daughters, Pam (Dave) Norman of Horton, Kansas, Tina (Jerry) Helmstetter of Denton, Kansas, Barb Slocum of Circleville, Kansas and a son, Darrell Burke (Eric Wittgen) of Atlanta, Georgia; two brothers, Roland Burke of Horton, Kansas, Eldon (Connie) Burke of Holton, Kansas; three sisters, Wyowna "Sug" (Wayne) Pollard of Hiawatha, Kansas, Reowna "Nonie" (Rolin) Ross of Topeka, Kansas, Aloma Heim of Omaha, Nebraska; grandchildren, Megan George, Travis George, Dana George, Noah & Talea Smith, Melissa Helmstetter, Aaron Helmstetter, Morgan Helmstetter, Jordan Monson, Burke Slocum and Lane Slocum; great grandchildren, Kaitlyne Chadd, Brenner Lowe, Jerick Lowe, Matthias Ramey and Jessalynn Smith.

Elwood was preceded in death 15 days ago by his wife JoAnn. They had been married for 59 years. He was also preceded in death by his parents, four brothers, Robert, Lyle, Ronald and Kenneth Burke and four sisters, Twilla Schowengerdt, Juanita "Peggy" Allen, Wanda McClaskey and Aloha Burke and a son-in-law, Kenny Slocum.

Funeral services will be at 10:00 A.M. on Monday, September 19, 2011 at the Dishon-Maple-Chaney Mortuary in Horton, Kansas where the family will greet friends on Sunday evening from 6:30 to 8:00 P.M. Burial will be at the St. Benedict's Cemetery in Bendena, Kansas.