Daniel L. Burke

On Wednesday, September 29, 2021, Daniel “Dan” Lawrence Burke, loving husband, father, friend, educator, and writer-actor-director, passed away at the age of 74. Born on October 6, 1946, Dan grew up on the southwest side of Chicago where his mischievous antics kept the nuns on their toes. After graduating from St. Rita’s High School, he went on to earn his undergraduate degree at Loyola University in Chicago and began a career teaching English. While working full-time and raising his three daughters with his former spouse Cathy, Dan went on to earn his masters and a Doctor of Education degree (EdD) from Northern Illinois University. Dan’s dedication to children’s education and hard work propelled his career forward; he quickly rose to become an Assistant Principal, Principal, and then Superintendent. He was a strong proponent of early childhood education and repeat student-teacher matches in the school districts he served as well as a published author in Educator Magazine. Initially Dan took seminars and joined Toastmasters to improve his skills in professional public speaking. This experience seeded the beginnings of his second career in acting, and eventually playwriting and directing. Always delighting his daughters with songs, quips and quotes, Dan realized that his desire to entertain shouldn’t be a pipe dream; he made it a reality by channeling his passion and talent for entertaining into community theatre. By 1999 he auditioned for and won the role of George Hay in the hilarious slapstick comedy "Moon Over Buffalo" presented by Kenosha's Lakeside Players. Though he went on to perform numerous roles in theatre productions across the country, this was his favorite onstage role of all time. As Dan neared retirement from his career in education, he married fellow educator, entertainer, and musician Patricia Adsit on October 28, 2005. Dan and Patricia began a partnership in 2007 writing and performing murder mysteries for their live entertainment company “Murder by Design.” They also co-authored the comedy stage play “Squirrels in the Attic” which debuted in 2007 at The Cathe Center in Burlington, WI, and was produced at many theater venues across the Midwest, including multiple seasons at the Memories Ballroom Dinner Theater in Port Washington. In addition to these they also published two novels, “Jarred Into Being” and “An Illegal President” under the pen name “Pat Lawrence.” Theatre’s ability to reflect the extraordinary, humorous, imperfect, and hopeful nature of human society was a perfect match for Dan. He continued to “wow” audiences with roles such as Lazar Wolf in “Fiddler on the Roof” and Candy in “Of Mice and Men”. Though Dan and Patricia recently moved to Towner Crest in 2020, Dan immediately made an important and lasting impact on the community through his directing of the TC Players drama group. In June of 2021 he directed the group in their first performance, “So Far, So Good”, a “cornucopia of rib-tickling jokes, gags, yarns and tall, tall tales" written by Dan. The success of this June performance led Dan to pen a new play specifically for the people and events at Towner Crest, “And Now For Something Completely Different." Originally scheduled to be presented October 8 and 10th, it is being rescheduled to be performed "post humorously" in the near future. As Dan would say without fail, “The show must go on!” Though Dan excelled at bringing so many roles to life on stage, he would tell you that the role he was most proud of was being a father. It is impossible for words to describe the love that Dan shared with his children and grandchildren and the joy he brought them with his presence. He was an ardent supporter and advocate for his three daughters, loving papa to his sons, and silly but wise Grandpa DD to his ten grandchildren. Through the years, he never stopped reminding his children and grandchildren how much he supported and believed in them. His words of encouragement and the love they could see in his eyes was a constant source of strength to help them overcome their challenges and reach their dreams, even as those dreams changed over time. Dan’s happiness as he gathered his family for a meal was contagious and all the troubles of the world melted away as “DD” regaled in stories of the past and retellings so hilarious they brought tears to everyone’s eyes. For Dan, a great story could never grow old, for he knew it was those stories that help us feel the full range of emotions that make up the human spirit, and to connect with one another. Dan is survived by his wife, Patricia; his children Leslie (Nathan) Jones, Lindsay (Bill) Donegan, Lauren (Dave) Nolte, Christopher (Michaela) Adsit and Jeremy Adsit; his grandchildren Rylie, Jessica, Evan, Finley, Connor, Calvin, Brooke, Emerson, Gino, and Gemma. The family would like to extend special heartfelt thanks and appreciation to the staff and volunteers at ProHealth Care AngelsGrace Hospice for the outstanding love and care they shared with Dan and his family. Memorial donations may be made to ProHealth Angels Grace Hospice, N74 W35908 Servants’ Way, Oconomowoc, Wi 53066 or St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis TN, 38105. A memorial celebration of Dan’s life will be held April 12, 2022 at Towner Crest Senior Living, 1205 E Lisbon Road, Oconomowoc, WI 53066.