Adam Kokas Death, Obituary – Adam McCaffry Burkemper, who was 48 years old and from Troy, Missouri, passed away on June 20, 2023 at SSM – St. Louis University Hospital in St. Louis, Missouri. He was surrounded by his family at the time of his passing. It was on July 8, 1974 in St. Louis, Missouri, that he was brought into the world by his parents, Thomas B. and Ellen M. (Eberhardt) Burkemper Sr. Adam and his three siblings, Ben, Rachel, and Laura, all spent their childhood in the same house in Troy, Missouri.
After finishing his elementary education at Sacred Heart School in Troy, he went on to complete his secondary education at Chaminade College Preparatory School in St. Louis. In subsequent years, he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from Lindenwood University, where he had previously studied. Adam received his Juris Doctor degree from Gonzaga University in 2002 after graduating with honors.
Soon after graduating from law school, he joined the family firm, The Burkemper Law Firm, where he worked as an attorney for more than two decades. Adam has just recently became a member of the Legal Services of Eastern Missouri team after accepting a position there. Adam was a kind and friendly attorney who worked in general practice and provided legal advice to many people in the counties of Lincoln, St. Charles, Warren, Ralls, Montgomery, and Pike.
Adam worked as a volunteer attorney for Lincoln County Habitat for Humanity, the Robertson Center, and the Lincoln County Resource Board in addition to running his own private business. Adam was not only instrumental in the passage of the act that established the Lincoln County Resource Board, which offers mental health-related services to children and adolescents living in Lincoln County, but he also served as a member of the Board and as its Chairperson.
In 2005, Adam was presented with the Volunteer Lawyer Award by Legal Services of Eastern Missouri. In 2022, he was honored by the Supreme Court of Missouri for his work as a Disciplinary Hearing Officer, and in 2005, he received the Volunteer Lawyer Award from Legal Services of Eastern Missouri. On September 15, 2001, he wed Janice Starkey in the Assumption Catholic Church in O’Fallon, Missouri.
The ceremony took place at a Catholic church. Adam “Mac” McCaffry Burkemper Jr. and Josephine “Josi” Catherine Burkemper are the couple’s two children. Mac and Josi were named after their respective middle names. Adam spent his whole life devoted to the outdoors and farming. Adam was quite good at fixing tractors and fences, as well as taking care of the land and livestock on the family farm, and he really enjoyed growing cattle.
He took great pleasure in passing on those abilities to his children, of whom he was extremely pleased for the hard work they had put in and the achievements they had attained. His children and other members of his immediate family describe him as loving, honest, obstinate, friendly, warm, generous, and compassionate. He works very hard and is very honest. Adam was always interested in expanding his knowledge and making time to lend a helpful hand to those in need.
He is survived by his devoted wife of 21 years, Janice “Jan” Burkemper of Troy, Missouri, as well as their two children, Mac and Josi Burkemper of Troy, Missouri; his parents, Thomas B. and Ellen E. Burkemper Sr. of Troy, Missouri; his siblings, Thomas B. “Ben” and wife Sarah Burkemper of Troy, Missouri; Rachel Rapp Burkemper and her partner, Stephen M. Smith of Seattle, Washington; Laura Burkemper Ellenhorn
Adam’s maternal and paternal grandfather as well as his father-in-law, John Charles Starkey, passed away before him. On Saturday, July 8, 2023, from 1 to 4 p.m., there will be a Celebration of Life held at the Knights of Columbus Hall located at 500 Highway J in Troy, Missouri 63379. At 1:30 in the afternoon, there will be a time for sharing, followed by statements from the family.
The family would want to hear your thoughts and stories about Adam. You are welcome to share your memories with us in our online guestbook, send them in printed form to the funeral home, or bring them with you to the Celebration of Life. His wife and children are interested in hearing stories from all phases of his life, therefore he should tell them.
