Gerhard Birk

Gerhard M. Birk, 91, of Jackson passed away Monday, June 27, 2005, at Monticello House in Jackson, where he had resided since October 2003.

He was born July 3, 1913, in Tilsit, Mo., son of Alvin M. and Amanda Lange Birk. He married Margaret Froemsdorf Oct. 13, 1940. She passed away May 30, 1970. He then married Georgia Proffer-Sachse Sept. 27, 1975. She passed away June 6, 1980.

Gerhard farmed near Burfordville a number of years and also near the Oak Ridge community. He did carpentry work in his early career, and working under a government contract helped to build Fort Leonard Wood in the early 1940s. He also worked for various contractors in the Cape County area many years.

He was active in Farm Bureau and Co-op, was a lifelong member of Immanuel Lutheran Church at Tilsit, where he had been the former secretary-treasurer several years.

Loving survivors include a brother, Nelson Birk and wife Mary of Fredericktown, Mo.; four sisters, Hulda Sievers of Jackson, Alma Aufdenberg and husband Harold of Jackson, Laura Nagel of Cape Girardeau, Vera Allen of Jackson; and a special friend, Vernell Steiner of Jackson.

He was preceded in death by a brother, Alfred Birk, and two sisters, Vanita Spooler and Elverda Allen.

Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. today at McCombs Funeral Home in Jackson.

The funeral will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Tilsit, with the Rev. Mark Boettcher officiating. Interment will be in Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery at Tilsit.

Expressions of sympathy may take the form of contributions to Immanuel Lutheran Church in Tilsit.