A Mass of Christian Burial celebrating the life of William "Bill" John Burkamp, 80, of Newark, will be held at the Church of the Blessed Sacrament, 11:00 A.M., Friday, August 6, 2021, with his brother-in-law, Fr. Ed Keck as celebrant.  Interment will follow in St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery with military honors provided by the Licking County Veterans Alliance.

Bill died peacefully at his home on Saturday, July 31, 2021.  He was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on December 5, 1940, to the late William and Adeline (Baldi) Burkamp.

A graduate of South Hills High School, Pittsburgh, Bill received his Associate Degree from Columbus Technical College and attended Ohio University where he was a member of Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society.  He then completed his graduate studies in business at Park College.

Bill was a longtime parishioner of the Church of the Blessed Sacrament where he sang with their former St. Gregory Choir.

Bill earned the rank of Eagle Scout in his youth and was a United States Navy Veteran.  He was a life member of the American Legion Post 85 (chaplain) , VFW 1060, Forty and Eight Society (40/8), VVA Chapter 55 (chaplain) , and served faithfully with the Licking County Veterans Alliance Honor Guard for many years.  He was retired from the Newark Air Force Base.

He will be greatly missed by his dedicated wife of 54 years, Mary "Cookie" (Keck) Burkamp; daughters, Christine (Kenneth) Billig and Lynnette (Mark) Schmidt; grandchildren, Ian Billig (fiancé, Maya Sattler) and Quentin Billig, Collin and Audrey Schmidt; sister, Carol (Larry) Carswell; sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, Bill Keck, Fr. Ed Keck, Ken (Connie), Carol (Dave) Young, Roberta (Randy) McDonald, Rita (Tony) Adams, and Sally Keck; and many nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents, Bill was preceded in death by 3 grandchildren, James, Miles and Kieran Phoebe Billig; his brother-in-law, Bernard Keck; and sisters-in-law, Sue Ann Keck and Patricia Digman Keck.

Friends and family may call at the REED-EGAN FUNERAL HOME, 141 Green Wave Drive, Newark, 4-7 P.M., Thursday, August 5, 2021, with a Vigil Service held at 7 P.M.  Due to the rise in COVID infections, the family is requesting for all those in attendance to please wear a mask.

Memorials in Bill's name can be made to the Church of the Blessed Sacrament, 394 E. Main Street, Newark, OH 43055; or the Licking County Veterans Alliance, PO Box 854, Newark, OH 43058-0854.

To share your memory of Bill or leave a condolence for the family, please visit www.reedegan.com.