BESSIE I. BIRK

Bessie I. Birk, 79, of Cape Girardeau, died Friday, July 2, 1993, at Southeast Missouri Hospital.

She was born May 27, 1914, in Cape Girardeau, daughter of Mason and Sarah Windeknecht Thomas.

She married Reinhard Birk March 8, 1946, in Cape Girardeau.

Survivors include her husband; a son, Gilbert Young of Jackson; a daughter, Phyllis Lukefahr of Marble Hill; a stepdaughter, Joyce Leming of Cape Girardeau; a sister, Evelyn Young of Cape Girardeau; eight grandchildren; four stepgrandchildren; eight great-grandchildren, and four great-stepgrandchildren.

Birk attended Southeast Missouri State University. She worked 28 years at Florsheim Shoe Co., retiring in 1973. She was a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Jackson, and the Better Breathers Club.

Funeral service will be at 1:30 p.m. Monday at Ford and Sons Mt. Auburn Chapel. The Rev. Lawrence Eatherton will officiate, with burial in Lorimier Cemetery.

Friends may call today from 4-8 p.m. at the funeral home.