Terribly sad to hear that our dear friend Michael Burke has passed away. Though I’m a relative newbie with our 300 Club (since 2005), Michael was one of the first Club members I was fortunate to have met. It was at the Krasl Concours in St. Joseph, MI – a drizzly day for the Concours that was featuring Letter Cars, around 2006 or so. Didn’t have the F there, I was walking around the show, when I came upon a  yellow F coupe creeping by that caught my eye. I walked up to it, knocked on the raised driver’s side window and introduced myself as a 300 Club member. Michael was driving and had two passengers – don’t recall who they were.  So, I got in the back seat and enjoyed a wonderful afternoon visiting with them – the beginning of a valued friendship. Michael loved that I was serious about driving my F to Club Meets, car shows and general open road country cruising, and helped me innumerable times when I needed something for, or had a question regarding, my F. Most recently, when my F motor required a rebuild in late 2021, he arranged for his local buddy Dale Richhart in Quincy to rebuild it. Dale was finishing up his rebuild of Andy Mikonis’ 1961 Daytona Speed Weeks G shortram 413 motor, and rebuilt my motor immediately following.
In 2019, when I was traveling to London, Michael connected me with his buddy Jan Fridberg in Sweden to attend the Power Big Meet in Lidköping, in early July. Jan picked me up at the Oslo airport, and we drove to his home, with a stop at Arne Nilsson’s for a delicious lunch of moose stew. Pulled into Arne’s driveway that’s marked by a faded red 300-E coupe shell with its nose buried at a 45-degree angle. Then over to Jan’s home, seeing his restoration of a white 300-C convertible in process, a variety of large metal-bending presses, and so much more. A five-hour drive through the beautiful forested Swedish countryside, south to the Power Big Meet the following morning. A mind-exploding event – Wednesday set-up, Thursday thru Saturday car overload – about 19,000 total cars - at least 98% American, and about 90% of those ‘50s and ‘60s – U.S. flags flying and draped over car interiors, American music and more. Visited with Dave and Cheryl Mihalko (of Quirey), Per Blixt (Jay Leno’s painter with his Fuelie D coupe we admired at our Pasadena Meet), and other new Swede friends. What an amazing experience, and I could never thank Michael enough.
Michael has done so much to support our 300 Club, decades longer than I’ve been involved, to arrange for and import many parts we’ve needed to maintain and upgrade our Letter Cars, to have some of them restored in Sweden, and to save and offer so many Letter and other Forward Look cars that may otherwise have been crushed. And then, in 2016 when Michael stepped down as a Club Director, and asked me to step into that position, I initially felt uneasy assuming his valued role. I could ramble on, but will stop now. An extraordinary character who touched so many people in our Club, I was privileged to call Michael my friend. Our condolences to Linda.
Noel Hastalis

Well said, Noel. Michael certainly was an "extraordinary character" and I counted his friendship as a real treasure. Whether it was information, advice, or a part I needed, Michael would always be right there to help. A dozen years ago or so, when my 300C transmission was giving me unsortable vibration fits, Michael even came up with George Riehl to my toy barn (a 4-hour round trip) and we all worked together to take the transmission down and try to figure out the problem. He asked for nothing more than "Thanks.” And then, with my transmission problems seeming impossible to resolve, he invited me to come down to his place in Quincy and pick any one of a stack of six transmissions there just because he wanted to be helpful.
Later, when I wanted to add A/C to my car, he said he had a genuine 1957 Mopar Cool Air aftermarket setup in a '58 parts car. He didn't intend to use it and said I was welcome to it. I had to beg him to take even a very small amount of cash for it. I installed it in our C and we love this very rare, original, and "cool" accessory.
But my fondest memories are of closing down the hospitality room at several Meets with Michael and his flask of Maker’s Mark. There were always great stories from all the hangers-on until everybody wore out for the night.
There will never be a greater fan (fanatic?) of the Chrysler Letter Cars than Michael Burke was, and we will all miss him and everything he meant to the Chrysler 300 Club International. RIP, Michael. We'll always wish you were still with us.
Keith Boonstra

Many of our friends have already posted much about Mike, and all true. A real character, somewhat a cynic like myself(!) we just connected instantly on that level. But what I remember most was the bright smile from Linda and Mike at what must have been the first meet I went to, I think with the drive on Chrysler test track? And Jefferson tour. My wife Bonnie was with me (RIP too), a lot of real fun. Simpler days… Anyway there was much controversy in the early days about originality…And Michael with a yellow F! Yellow? I am not sure how that shook out, re original, To me much ado about nothing. To each his own. But I remember Mike being Mike, in the middle of that, just smiling and Linda, too. Hey, we are here for fun. And maybe memory has merged some meets… Maybe the yellow meant a sunny, happy, low stress place … it did to me, back then. I’ll miss him, larger than life. We are all with you Linda, and I hope to see you again soon. Thanks for all the happiness you both brought to all of our gatherings.
John Grady

I wanted to add similar sentiments about Mike Burke. I met Mike many years ago when I was looking for a 300F convertible. I flew out to see Mike’s collection of cars and parts and quickly became friends with both Mike and his wife Linda. It was always a treat to go visit and stay at their farm. They attended so many meets and drove out to the West Coast Chrysler 300 meet I helped organize in 2018. I’d call Mike for advice and parts and often he’d be on his tractor but stop what he was doing to help. Over the years, I bought quite a few cars and parts. Mike probably saved more Chryslers 300 from the crusher than anyone else and removed all the critical parts from cars that weren’t rebuildable to keep more Chrysler 300s on the road. Every time I’d go visit, I’d find some useful part in a barn, outside on a parts car and even the in the “treeline” cars. I had planned a January visit in December and he passed before I arrived. I made a much-delayed delivery of reproduction sill plates that Mike used to distribute after reproduction in Sweden. I got back a week ago from that trip where we drank rum and cokes in memory of Mike (and maybe started a new habit for me) and Linda joined a few of us for hours and hours in the barns. Mike was a good friend to so many of us and a fountain of knowledge and determined to preserve and get rebuilt as many 300s rebuilt and back on the road as possible. Mike was always a huge proponent of driving 300s, so when the weather improves get your 300 out on the road and raise a glass to Mike.
Sam Cohen

I agree with the sentiments expressed above. My first contact with Mike was about 35 years ago when George Riehl agreed to rebuild the engine in my 300G. Because George still lived "in town" before he moved to Jonesville my car was dropped off at the Burke farm. The idea was George would go to work on it at Mike's. Ultimately I asked George to do some other things on the car and I think it stayed at Mike's for well over a year. Mike even helped George with a couple things on my car but would never take any payment.
Over the years when I needed an odd part here and there for one of my 300s I'd call Mike. He helped me out more than once and, like Keith said, would never take money. He did say he'd trade parts so one time when I found a really nice 1960 Chrysler 2-door door at the Iola swap meet I bought it. I called Mike to see if he could use it. He said in his very casual manner that he had one or two 1960 Chryslers (I think he had at least 8-10 300Fs at the time) on the farm and presumed at least one would need metal work on the doors. The next time I was going his way I dropped the door off. He hoisted it over his shoulder and took it into one of his buildings housing many MoPar treasures. Maybe it's still leaned against the same wall where he put it.
Another time he sent me a part I needed and instead of asking how much he wanted, because I knew he wouldn't take anything, I just sent him a check for what I thought was fair. Mike never cashed my check.
Noel lives about 100 miles from me. A few years back I went down to Noel's and then Noel (driving his 300F) and I went to a couple car shows in Michigan, meeting up with John Begian along the way. We ended up stopping at the Burkes after the first day for what I thought was going to be for dinner. I thought we were going to go out someplace for dinner. As I recall we were going to stay at a hotel up the road a few miles as this was a two day trip before Noel and I returned to Illinois and Wisconsin respectively the next day. Instead, Linda made us all dinner and then we ended up staying overnight at the Burkes as a result of Linda and Mike's hospitality. Cancel the hotel reservation. We talked "cars" and whatever halfway through the night. 
Mike has been a great friend and I join in Keith's sentiments that some of the best times were the late night hospitality room discussions at the 300 meets. RIP Mike. My thoughts and prayers to Linda and the Burke family.
Brian Frank

End of an era as the club loses such important old school members. We’ll miss his sense of humor and knowledge, and his efforts to help provide reproduction parts!
He and Linda had us stay over at their place when we bought a project G a couple years ago.  They had so many car adventure stories to tell…
Green lights and open roads Michael Burke!
Dave & Kya Mason

Sad news, Mike was a great guy, he welcomed me when I first became a member and got me to stay up late into the morning many nights at the meets. He made for some very interesting and funny conversations besides his great knowledge of Letter Cars. He will definitely be missed and the nights in the hospitality room won't be the same without him. Mike Falcone Our condolences to the Burke family. Just like all the other 300 Club members that have passed away, he will be missed a lot. Rest in Peace Michael Burke. Charlie Valentine

Sad and sorry to hear this news. He was a great club member and friend. Very knowledgeable guy with a passion that it seems few have. Best wishes and condolences to Linda, his family and friends. 
John Lyons

Looks as though we newer members have missed out knowing many great members and 300 historians. Best thing we can do to honor Mike, Gill and the others who have departed is to pass their knowledge and enthusiasm along to the generation behind us. Who knows, it may well be that the coming electrification of cars will spur a renewed interest in high performance cars from the midcentury.
Danny Plotkin

Well said Danny, My condolences to Mike's family and friends as well as this club. Sounds like he was a great guy.
Engels A. Gualdani

Sorry to learn of Michael Burkes passing via the E-News. He was a good guy!  Gonna miss his antics at future meets!
Jeff Miklas