Mary Ann Birk

Mary Ann Birk, 78, of Jackson passed away Thursday, Dec. 28, 2017, at the Lutheran Home in Cape Girardeau.

She was born Nov. 27, 1939, in Cape Girardeau to William Henry Edward and Helen Clara Wendel Hennecke.

She was confirmed at Zion Lutheran Church in Gordonville, which was also the church where she and Orville Otto Birk were married on July 6, 1958. Their marriage was blessed with two children, and they had been married 54 years when Orville passed away Sept. 23, 2012.

Mary Ann attended the former Needmore Grade School near Gordonville and was a 1958 graduate of Jackson High School.

She worked for the Jackson School District, Coca-Cola, Schott Accounting, the former Brennecke Chevrolet and Coad Chevrolet, and many years as a Mary-Kay consultant. She and Orville were lifelong farmers and owned and operated a Missouri Century Farm, raising both registered Hereford and registered Angus cattle.

Mary Ann was a member of Christ Lutheran Church in Gordonville. She previously attended Immanuel Lutheran Church in Tilsit. She taught Sunday School, held various offices in the church and enjoyed serving in many capacities, especially the Lutheran Women's Missionary League and Lutheran Family and Children's Services.

Her other affiliations include the University of Missouri Extension Council, 4-H leader, Farm Bureau, working at election polls, and she was awarded the Jackson Rotarian Servant of the Year.

Survivors include two children, Bonnie (Terry) Pohlman of Oak Ridge and Steven (Patsy) Birk of Gordonville; a brother, Edward Hennecke of Gordonville; five grandchildren, Amy (Adam) Thomas of Jackson, Ryan (Lindsey) Pohlman of Oak Ridge, Logan (Garret) Light of Jackson, Paige Birk of Columbia, Missouri, and Cody Abernathy of Marble Hill, Missouri; eight great-grandchildren Lane, Austin, Texas, Wyatt, Ava, Ella, Linkin, Brylee and Carsen; two brothers-in-law, Glen (Alice) Birk of Jackson and Donald (Linda) Birk of Eldorado Springs, Missouri; two sisters-in-law, Vera (the late Loyd) Birk and Alice (Charles) Ahrens, both of Jackson; and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband and parents.

Visitation will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. today and from 9 a.m. to service time Saturday at McCombs Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Jackson.

The funeral will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at the funeral home, with the Rev. Jacob May officiating. Burial will follow at Russell Heights Cemetery in Jackson.

Memorials may take the form of contributions to Christ Lutheran Church in Gordonville.

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