Susan L. (VanNice) Burke, 81, of Atoka, Tenn., formerly of De Soto, died July 22, 2026. Mrs. Burke was raised in Kirkwood and participated in the Girl Scouts, Mariner Scouts and youth sports and she enjoyed camping with her family. She was a member of Grace Episcopal Church and worked as a lifeguard before graduating from Kirkwood High School in 1963. Following her graduation, she earned her registered nursing degree from St. Luke’s Hospital School of Nursing in St. Louis and later completed her bachelor of science degree in nursing at the University of St. Francis. She also earned a master of arts degree in medical cultural anthropology from Memphis State University. She worked as an operating room nurse for more than 30 years and later worked as a hospital and nursing MDS coordinator until retirement. Additionally, she was an active member of Atoka Methodist Church for 28 years; while there, she served as a newsletter editor for 15 years, helped establish the annual Fall Festival and organized the monthly “Out to Lunch” gatherings. She also served as a past president of Tipton County Republican Women. As a mother, Mrs. Burke served as a Girl Scout leader, coached girls’ softball for five championships, supported the Tipton County 4-H Club, attended horse shows with her grandchildren and acted as primary caregiver to her daughter, Katie, throughout her extended illness. She enjoyed camping, water skiing, canoeing and watching Cardinals baseball. She especially enjoyed riding horses and sharing her love of horses with others as well as training dogs; her own Sheltie, Sunny, became one of the top 100 obedience dogs in the U.S. She will be remembered for her faith, compassion, kindness and devotion to those she loved. Born June 19, 1945, she was the daughter of the late Babe and Bill VanNice.
She is survived by her husband of nearly 59 years: Mike Burke; two children: Bill Burke and Anne Crow; a son-in-law: Randall Crow; eight grandchildren: Whitney, Lauren, Julia, William, Katherine, Taylen, Braeden and Avery; seven great-grandchildren: Sawyer, Adalynn, Liam, Isaiah, Kaison, Lillian and one on the way, Fletcher; a sibling: Betty Buersmeyer; a brother-in-law: Dale Buersmeyer; and a nephew: Mark Buesmeyer.
She was preceded in death by a daughter: Mary Katherine Burke.
A memorial gathering is scheduled from 10:30 a.m. until services at noon Saturday, Aug. 1, at Dietrich-Mothershead Funeral Home, 220 N. Main St., in De Soto. Burial will be in Woodlawn Cemetery in De Soto. Arrangements are under the direction of Dietrich-Mothershead Funeral Home.