Nelson Birk

O'FALLON, Mo. -- Surrounded by his family, Nelson Albert Birk, 95, of O'Fallon passed away Wednesday, July 27, 2022, at his home.

Born May 11, 1927, near Tilsit, Nelson was the seventh of nine children born to Alvin M. and Amanda Lange Birk. Nelson was baptized and confirmed at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Tilsit. He and Mary Jeanne Gross were wed on March 25, 1952, at Christ Lutheran Church in Gordonville.

Nelson was a 1945 graduate of Jackson High School. He was drafted into the U.S. Army in April 1946. After boot camp, he was assigned to the Japan Occupational Force at the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo, serving in an honor guard for Gen. Douglas MacArthur. In November 1951, he was drafted a second time into the Army. He was assigned to a motor pool in Munich, Germany, which was attached to the Armed Forces Radio station. He was responsible for chauffeuring dignitaries in and around Munich, Germany.

Between and after service assignments, Nelson worked at Ford Groves in Cape Girardeau. In 1955, he was hired by Uregas Propane in Cape Girardeau. He was transferred to Fredericktown, Missouri, in 1959, where he served Madison and surrounding county clients until his retirement in 1989.

After retirement, Nelson and Mary loved traveling the U.S. highways in their motor home, camping with many friends and family, wintering in Texas, and fishing. Nelson enjoyed attending his grandchildren's sporting events, vegetable gardening, and making bug barns and other wood crafts.

Loving survivors include his wife of 70 years, Mary Birk of O'Fallon; his son, Scott (Darlene) Birk of St. Charles, Missouri; daughter-in-law, Marcia Birk of St. Peters, Missouri; five grandchildren, Marcus Birk of St Louis; Matthew (Ashley) Birk of St. Charles; Amanda Birk of Rock Hill, Missouri; Ryan Birk of Florence, Kentucky; and Brianna Birk of St. Charles; three great-grandchildren, Audrey, Adley and Molly Birk; and a sister-in-law, Alberta (the late Albert) Gross of Gordonville.

Nelson was preceded in death by a son, Alan Birk; his parents; and eight siblings, Gerhard Birk, Alfred Birk, Vanita Spooler, Hulda Sievers, Alma Mouser, Vera Allen, Laura Nagel and Elverda Allen.

Visitation will be from 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday at McCombs Funeral Home in Jackson.

The funeral will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at the funeral home, with the Rev. Ron Millard officiating. Interment with full military honors will follow at Cape County Memorial Park Cemetery and Mausoleum in Cape Girardeau.

Memorials may take the form of contributions to the Lutheran High School of St. Charles County or Peace Lutheran Church Building Fund in O'Fallon.

To send an online condolence to the family, visit McCombs Funeral Home's website at www.mccombsfuneralhome.com, then click on the tribute wall tab of Nelson's personal obituary.