Loyd Birk

Loyd M. Birk, 86, of Jackson passed away Thursday, Oct. 12, 2017, at Southeast Hospital in Cape Girardeau.

He was born March 15, 1931, in Tilsit to Martin M. and Martha A. Best Birk.

He was baptized April 19, 1931, and confirmed March 25, 1945, at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Tilsit. He was a graduate of Immanuel Grade School and Jackson High School.

Loyd and Vera Bock of Advance, Missouri, were married July 3, 1960, at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Chaffee, Missouri. Two children were born to their union, Christine and Philip.

Loyd was employed at Strickert Service Station in Jackson and several years as the bus superintendent at the Jackson R-2 School District. He then owned and operated Strickert Service Station and later retired from Kasten Masonry, where he worked over 25 years as the transportation manager. He also lettered and painted signs on vehicles.

In 1959, Loyd transferred his church membership from Immanuel Church in Tilsit to St. Paul Lutheran Church in Jackson, where he served in many capacities, including several terms as president of the congregation. Some of his other affiliations include serving on the boards of the Jackson R-2 School District and the Sheltered Workshop, membership in the Rotary and Optimist clubs in Jackson, and serving many years as a registered Scout master with the Boy Scouts in Jackson.

Loving survivors include his wife of 57 years, Vera Birk of Jackson; two children, Christine Buttram and husband Rick of Osage Beach, Missouri, and Philip Birk and wife Michelle Hoff-Birk of Perryville, Missouri; five grandchildren, Chastity (Tom) Aubuchon of O’Fallon, Missouri, Allie Birk of Jackson, Nate Buttram of Washington, D.C., Rachel Buttram of Osage Beach and Keaton Birk of Jackson; three stepgrandchildren, Jordan, Ahnie and Sophie Hoff of Perryville; four great-grandchildren, Matthew, Collin, Benjamin and Charlotte Aubuchon of O’Fallon; two brothers, Glen (Alice) Birk of Jackson and Donald (Linda) Birk of El Dorado Springs, Missouri; a sister, Alice (Charles) Ahrens of Jackson; a sister-in-law, Mary Ann (the late Orville) Birk of Jackson; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Orville Birk.

Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. today at McCombs Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Jackson and from 10 a.m. to service time Monday at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Jackson.

The funeral will be at 11 a.m. Monday at the church, with the Rev. Jason Shaw officiating. Burial will follow at Russell Heights Cemetery in Jackson.

Memorials may take the form of contributions to St. Paul Lutheran Church or St. Paul Men’s Club.

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