Mike was my friend and I love him and will miss him terribly  Mike passed away Sunday morning Aril 9, 2006. Mike had been ill for sometime with many health issues. He. his family and doctors had decided against having surgery to fix a hole in his intestine. With complications of a bad heart and luekemia the risk was so high that he wouldn't survive the surgery. Knowing he was going to die I can't stop thinking of what was on my friends mind in the last months. I didn't know. It pains me what he and his family went through. He made this choice his to spend as much of this time left with them.

    Mike was born October 6, 1931 in Wilkes Barre , PA he grew up in Bronx, NY where he worked as a short order cook till he joined the United States Marines at age 16 (possibly 15 rumor has it). Being from the Bronx he was a huge Brooklyn Dodger fan. Standing in line in LA for hours to sign a petition to bring the Dodgers to LA he loved the team. After the marines he married Wanda his wife of 52 years that he met at the 5 & 10 in LA. They had three children Vickie, Bill, and Chris as well two grand-children Allana and Austin. He owned several 76 gas stations in Santa Monica, Brentwood, and Malibu. Where he met many celebs he allways referred to many as his good buddy Dean Martin for instance and if you ask them well they'd tell you it was so. Mike was that guy you just loved him.

     Mike's service was held April 19 at Pierce Brothers Mortuary in Westlake Village. It started with a video playing up on wall monitors. There was a pile of pictures of Mike's life through the ages, the music was meloncholy I cant remember the songs one by one the picture is taken off the top of the pile and brought into view and then drifted away till all the pictures are one by one gone. You see him at various ages and he looks exactly like Bill and Chris when he was thier age. they are mirror images of thier father. Many spoke first Bill he told us  who his Dad was and a dream he had nights before where Vickie his sister who has passed away visited him. She told Bill "it's OK you had him for 25 years it's my time now" he woke and thought how long has it been not really knowing for sure that his sister had been gone 25 years. Chris spoke very moving he was too emotionial to say very much but it was very sweet. Then Denny the cop he told the story of allways losing his 76 antenna balls so Mike gave him a big box full of balls. Denny clipped a curb one night in the cop car not wanting to deal with an accident report and being close to the station he limped the car over. "Hey Mike can you help me fix this? " "Sure" Mike said he just happened to have a tire and a spare rim allthough it was red he had a can of black paint wala one fixed tire. None the wiser. That was the kind of guy Mike was he was everyones angel. Tim spoke of seeing Mike every Tuesday night at the shop. They'd be getting the race car ready for the next weekend and he'd allways show up to see how it was going. One weekend at the track the car had terrible oil leaks. They couldn't get it fixed no matter what they did. It was spewing oil all over the track and the officials said fix it or don't race. They really need to race so Mike suggested Pampers and Duct tape. So Mike ran to the store bought a whole bunch of diapers they taped her up and the race went on. Bill had Mikes blue Brooklyn hat he passed it around so anyone that had a story about Mike could stand up and share it. Allana spoke of Mike having to allways be at her games and practices. She told him to stay home for the practice that she didn't want him there so he said OK. Some time through the practice she noticed him in a chair way up on the hill with binoculars. he loved her too much to stay home. Magic Johnson came into the station often one day he told him " you should see my grand-daughter play she's really good" just one of his his good buddies. You knew everyone in Mikes life even if you hadn't yet met them because he'd tell you all about them he was so proud of everyone. Stan stood to say how Mike was the service in full-service. Mike's nieghbors spoke of holidays and block parties and Christmas eve at the Burko's. The hat came to me and I had a lump so large in my throat I couldn't breath I had to pass it on. I said to myself(he was listening) I love you my dear sweet friend I will think of you often and you won't miss a thing because I will tell you all about it. You will never be forgotten because you live within me allways. My memories are fewer than others I only knew my friend for a brief four years. But I was there with him in the early morning hours on 9-11 when it was all coming down on the radio what was happening when the terrorist's attacked. What a day. And then when we got in our head-on collision on the freeway going to the races. I rode with him to the hospital in the ambulance where we sat for hours worring about Wanda who was at another hospital. What a day. Allthough those two where pretty tragic ones every day spent with Mike was truelly What a Day!

     After the service we went back to the house for some refreshments and food. I was able to get to talk with Bill and Chris a bit meet Chris's fiance and meet others I hadn't yet met. My friend left behind a legacy of loved ones great memories and an example for all to follow. Bill said he never went without there were never bill collectors calling. His father never had a bad word to say about anyone. He didn't know how Mike did it when he gave so much away. They'd put a battery in a car and Bill would be doing the invoice he'd say Dad how much labor? "oh thats ok they're a good friend". Every custommer was a good friend.

     I believe in my heart my friend Mike is in a better place but I can't say for sure that he'd agree with that statement. Being that I've no actual proof of this "better place" I can't say for sure that it exists. But I can say for sure that we are all in a "better place" just having been here with Mike. The world is alot better for him having been in it. His love and warmth will stay in our hearts forever. My Mike was a gracious, warm hearted, loving person. Who loved life and people he was a romantic with a great sense of humor. I am a rich person today just for knowing him. Its not everyday that you get to know a guy like my friend Mike Burko. I personally believe there is a spritual world and there are loved ones there to great you. I believe your spirit does go on to be reunited with them. May Mike's soul be rejoicing right now with Vickie and all those that have been waiting his arrival. God Bless my friend Mike