Reed Peter Burke

Reed Peter Burke November 21, 1949 – August 21, 2026

Reed Peter Burke, 76, of Spring, Texas, passed away on August 21, 2026. He was born in Springfield, Vermont, on November 21, 1949.

Reed was a dynamic, loyal, honorable, and hardworking man; a man of his word who lived with honesty, pride, generosity, and determination. He was self-made, starting with little and teaching himself nearly everything he knew. Through persistence and natural talent, he built a successful and respected career and became a master craftsman in every sense of the word.

Reed began his career as a plumber, eventually becoming a master plumber and a proud member of the Plumbers Local Union. He worked on numerous high-rise buildings in downtown Houston, serving as a foreman. He continued working as a foreman for many companies. Later, he joined his brother and nephew at CombiLift Depot, where he worked as a mechanical engineer. Analytical, systematic, organized, and highly skilled, Reed took great pride in his work and devoted much of his life to his career and his family.

Those who knew Reed will remember his loyalty, charisma, stubborn determination, quick wit, and generous spirit. He was a teacher and a friend, always willing to share his knowledge and lend a helping hand. Though he did not always admit it, Reed had a tender heart, especially when it came to his cats. He named his beloved cat “Kitty” after the character Kitty from Gunsmoke, one of his favorite old Western television shows.

Reed loved boating, skiing, and nearly anything involving water. He enjoyed music and took great pleasure in collecting guitars. He also loved horses and watching classic Western movies and television shows. He loved learning new things on YouTube. These passions, along with his love of family, brought him great joy throughout his life.

Reed is survived by his beloved wife, Jerie Burke; his children, David Burke and his wife, Paula, of Spring, Texas, and Robert Burke and his wife, Sheila, of Stratford, Texas; and his stepsons, Trey McGlaun and his wife, Annie, of Skutskar, Sweden, and Cody Nunnery and his wife, Amber, of Houston, Texas.

He is also survived by his grandchildren, Seth McCandless and his wife, Jessica, of Amarillo, Texas; Shelby Zamora of Amarillo, Texas; Zack Burke of Colorado; Kaitlyn Burke Spring TX; Kylie Burke of Spring, Tx; Collin McGlaun and his wife, Amya, of Spring, Texas; Kalissa McGlaun of Linz, Austria; and Nora McGlaun and Alexander McGlaun of Skutskar, Sweden. He is also survived by numerous great-grandchildren and many others who loved him dearly.

Reed is also survived by his stepmother, Beverly Boike of Detroit, Michigan; his brothers, David Burke and his wife, Cheryl, of Spring, Texas, and James Burke and his wife, Yongxiu, of Lemoore, California; and his nieces and nephews, including Michelle Martin of Tomball, Texas; Eddie Burke and his wife, Anna, of Spring, Texas; and Jun Wang, who is serving in the United States Navy.

Reed will be deeply missed by his family, friends, coworkers, and all who had the privilege of knowing him. His legacy will live on through the lessons he taught, the work he accomplished, the lives he touched, and the love he gave so generously.

A memorial service is scheduled for September 19, 2026, at 2:00 PM at Salem Lutheran in Tomball.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that donations be made in Reed’s memory to The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.