Clement Birk

Clement Oscar Birk, 94, of Chesterfield, Mo., formerly of Cape Girardeau, passed away Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2013, at St. Luke's Hospital in Chesterfield.

He was born Sept. 24, 1918, in Tilsit, son of Oscar A. and Olinda Best Birk. He was baptized and confirmed at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Tilsit. He and Mary Irene Sander were married Dec. 19, 1941.

Clement worked at the International Shoe Co. in Jackson before going into military service. During World War II, he served in the U.S. Army Air Corps as a military policeman at Midland, Texas, and in overseas duty in the Pacific area. He was honorably discharged in 1946 with the rank of corporal. He was a member of VFW Post 3838 in Cape Girardeau, American Legion Post 158 in Jackson and American Legion Post 17 in Gallatin, Tenn.

He and Marvin Schrader formed and operated Birk and Schrader Construction Co. for 25 years. He later worked for and retired from Riverside Lumber Co.

He was a former member of St. Andrew Lutheran Church, where he served on the building committee and several boards and as an usher. He also attended Trinity Lutheran Church in Cape Girardeau and Trinity Lutheran Church in Gallatin, Tenn. He was most recently a member of Lord of Life Lutheran Church in Chesterfield.

Loving survivors include his wife of 71 years, Irene of Chesterfield; a son and daughter-in-law, Gary and Sandy Birk of Creve Coeur, Mo.; a daughter and son-in-law, Saundra and Tom Farrington of Chesterfield; a brother, Norman (Doris) Birk of Jackson; a sister, Francis Cobble of Arnold, Mo.; a sister-in-law Shirley Birk; and a brother-in-law, Leonard Koenig.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a sister, Alene Koenig of Jackson; a brother, Truman Birk of Jackson; and a brother-in-law, James Cobble.

Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at McCombs Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Jackson.

The funeral service will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at the funeral home, with the Rev. Douglas Breite officiating. Interment will be in Russell Heights Cemetery in Jackson.

Memorials may take the form of contributions to the Lord of Life Lutheran Church, "Toward a Greater Tomorrow Fund," 15750 Baxter Road, Chesterfield, MO 63017.

Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.mccombsfuneralhome.com.