April 10, 1945 – September 2, 2015

It is with great sadness that the family announces the passing of Helmut Gottfried Burke on September 2nd, 2015, after over two years of treatments for brain cancer. The love of his life and wife of 15 years, Trudy David, was by his side. Helmut was very happy to be adopted into the David family in 2000 and will be deeply missed by his daughters, Téana, Chantal (Mike), and sons, Nigel (Danielle), and Julian (Nicole). In addition to his wife, children and grandchildren, Helmut is mourned by his brothers Reinhard (Patricia), Holger (Judy), sister Elke (Herb), nieces, nephews, relatives in Germany and many dear friends.

Helmut was a loving grandfather and had many fun times doing sports with granddaughter Bella, and grandsons Tyler, Dylan and Kaelin. He coached his grandsons’ school basketball teams where he encouraged a raucous high energy freelance-style play, often accompanied by hip-hop music, and was known for rewarding proper shooting technique with donuts and T-shirts.

Helmut was born on April 10th, 1945 in Bönebuttel, Germany, a small farming village on the outskirts of Kiel, while the last of the Allied World War II bombs were falling. In 1952, his father John took the family to Canada where he worked as a masonry contractor in the Kamloops area, with Helmut as his handyman helper. Helmut’s mother Elisabeth was known for her beautiful soprano voice and her award-winning riverside garden.

Helmut’s lifelong joy of music was inspired by his father, who led the Christian school’s orchestra in Vernon and played in the Okanagan Symphony. Helmut and his father especially enjoyed the symphonic choruses, chilling fanfares, and choral masterpieces of Mozart, Beethoven, and Handel. In addition to playing the trombone, tenor banjo, and guitar as a youth, Helmut sang in two local choirs: Soundings, The Gettin’ Higher Choir, and at The Victoria Conservatory.

Amongst the many passions that they shared, Helmut and Trudy had a love of nature. They spent many fun times at their cottage on Cortes Island, often with close friends and family, where they enjoyed kayaking in the bioluminescence of Manson’s Lagoon, and on the warm beaches of northwest Costa Rica, where they would surf and explore. Helmut and Trudy also shared a love of classical music and were thrilled to go on a European opera tour in 2014 to Vienna, Budapest, Bratislava and Prague.

Helmut received a degree in Chemical Engineering (1967), and MBA (1971), from UBC. He also studied education and taught at three colleges and two high schools in B.C. Encouraged by professor Dr. Faith Collins, he helped develop, and taught the on-line course “Hazardous Waste Management” at the University of Victoria.

Helmut started his career at Reichhold Chemicals making adhesives, paper coatings, paints and fibreglass resins. While working at Chemetics International, he became a specialist in pulp mill odour control and completed more than two dozen projects at pulp mills internationally. He was also part of the design team for the first pulp mill in the world to operate with 100% recycled water, at Meadow Lake, Saskatchewan.

In 1975 Helmut started his own consulting engineering firm and spent 50 years in chemical, environmental and international marketing consulting. He became interested in Buddhism and, hoping to incorporate mindfulness into his work exchanges, spent time meditating in monasteries in Nara, Japan and Seoul, Korea while on business. For the past 10 years, he focused on different aspects of the mining industry in B.C.

As rewarding as his career was, Helmut’s true joy was finding Trudy, her children and grandchildren, with whom he could share his life, and give the gift of unconditional love and encouragement.

The family wishes to thank Dr. John Sun, and Dr. Andrew Attwell and the other medical professionals at the B.C. Cancer Clinic whose great care allowed Helmut to enjoy life with his family for more than two years after his diagnosis. With the help of the Victoria Hospice, Island Health staff, and The Red Cross, he was able to end his life peacefully at home.

A memorial service will be held at McCall’s Funeral Home, Vancouver and Johnson Streets on Sunday, October 4th at 2:00 pm.

Condolences may be offered to the family below.

McCall Bros. Funeral Home
www.mccallbros.com.

  • Cathleen Hart

    Dear Trudy and family, what a kind Spirit Helmut was! I remember him well as a member of the Gettin’ Higher Choir where he was always encouraging to me and all others. He could always be seen with a smile on his face, a tall presence at the back of the stage, he sang out loud and clear. The world has lost a gentle, kindly soul and for that he will be forever remembered.

    Sincere Condolences,
    Cathleen Hart

  • Dr. Hamdy El-Rayes & Ute Lang

    To Trudy David, The David’s, and The Burke’s families
    We are truly sorry to hear of the loss of Helmut. He was a good friend, a kindhearted man, and an excellent professional.
    His devotion to his adopted family was exemplary.
    Please accept our condolences and may our prayers help comfort you.

    Dr. Hamdy El-Rayes & Ute Lang
    Vancouver, BC

  • Edward and Helen Gres

    To Trudy David and all of Helmut’s family
    Our sincerest condolences, and sympathy on the loss of such a brilliant, and empathetic husband , and
    Person. Having known him for over 40 years , both as a fellow Chemical Engineer, and a friend
    Who was always there . Definitely not a conventional thinker, but always a constant source of
    Inspiration.His example of true humanity lives on with us.
    With our love to Helmut’s Family

    Edward and Helen Gres
    Bradford, Ont

  • margaret mc lynn

    Dear Trudy,and all the family. I’m so sad to hear about Helmut’s death. As his voice teacher I came to know him as a generous,thoughtful,fun,enthusiastic spirit. He loved to sing the old romantic songs or songs in German. We raised the roof a few times! It was a privilege to know him and I shall miss him. Please accept my sincere sympathy. Love,Margaret

  • Debbie McNeil

    My condolences to Trudy and family. I met Helmut at the Brain Tumour Support Meeting at the Cancer Clinic. He was a wonderful person who had so much love for his family.

  • Tanja

    Dear Trudy,
    Please accept my most heartfelt sympathies for your loss…my thoughts are with you and your family during this difficult time.
    With love and hugs,
    Tanja

  • Kim Greenwood

    Dear Trudy,
    Wishing you peace and comfort. Helmut was such a kind and gentle soul taken far too soon from you and your family. It was so wonderful you had such a rich life together. My deepest sympathies and many hugs.
    Kim

  • Garth aHelen von Buchholz

    We are so sorry to hear of Helmut’s health problems in the last two years. We remember meeting him and he was such a fine man. We are so sorry for you and your children and grandchildren for his loss.

  • Nancy Brown

    Hi Trudy and family,
    I am so sorry to hear about Helmut’s passing. It breaks my heart. He was a great man and I loved him for the wonderful human being he was. All my heartfelt condolences to you and your family. He will be greatly missed, however we all have some wonderful memories with him that we can cherish forever. Best Nancy and family

  • Sandy Foote

    Dear Trudy,

    I’m so sorry to hear of your loss. Please accept our condolences. Love Sandy

  • Wendy Merk

    Dear Trudy and family, Helmut was an extraordinary fellow and we will never forget him. I’ll especially remember his kindness, his sense of humour, and his courage.
    With my deepest sympathies,
    Wendy Merk

  • Joanne Davidson

    May you be comforted and blessed by the countless joyful memories that you have collected over the years. You have had a remarkable life together.

  • Louise Crossgrove

    To Trudy and family. It has been truly inspiring to see how Helmut and you coped with his illness. I have enjoyed getting to know Helmut and how the two of you just seemed to blossom and grow as a couple. Your love of music, particularly choral and opera music always seemed to be supported by Helmut. He had such a love of choral music and was your number one fan . He seemed to always be there when you sang and always seemed to be smiling. He enjoyed seeing you perform. It was evident how much he loved you. I saw how much you loved him and was so very happy the two of you had found each other and the joy that came from that union. I saw the courage that Helmut had while dealing with the difficulties that cancer treatment entails. There is a lot of uncertainty with any kind of cancer treatment. Despite his fears, he continued being by your side for music related events – yours or others , especially the Opera Chorus group. His gentle spirit will be missed. I will miss seeing his face in the crowd. I weep for you and this devastating loss you now have to bear. For your children, I also weep. They have lost a kind and accepting parent mentor. The grandchildren have lost their Grandfather of a different kind. Helmut was open and loving with everyone. Such a great loss for all. Know that I hold you all in my heart and send prayers of succour to you at this time of great sorrow. Know also, I send prayers of peace and love to you, my chorus friend, and all of your family who are affected by Helmut’s passing. Pace, Requiem et eternum. I would like to leave this quote from Kahlil Gibran’s “The Prophet”. Near the very end of the book is this paragraph. It has always been a favourite of mine. I spoke this passage at my own mother’s funeral.

    Farewell to you and the youth I have spent with you.
    It was but yesterday we met in a dream.
    You have sung to me in my aloneness, and I of your longings have built a tower in the sky.
    But now our sleep has fled and our dream is over, and it is no longer dawn.
    The noontide is upon us and our half waking has turned to fuller day, and we must part.
    If in the twilight of memory we should meet once more, we shall speak again together and you shall sing to me a deeper song.
    And if our hands should meet in another dream we shall build another tower in the sky.

    Much love, Louise

  • Mimi And Glen Brownlee

    Trudy, I am so sorry to hear about Helmut’s death. You two had a wonderful life together. We only met a few times, but he was a lovely man. Love Mimi and Glen

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