Orville Birk

Orville O. Birk, 79, of Jackson passed away Sunday, Sept. 23, 2012, at Southeast Hospital in Cape Girardeau.

He was born May 29, 1933, in Tilsit, to Martin M. and Martha A. Best Birk. He was baptized and confirmed at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Tilsit. He and Mary Ann Hennecke were married July 6, 1958, at Zion Lutheran Church in Gordonville. Their marriage was blessed with two children.

Orville attended the former Tilsit Grade School and Jackson High School. He was inducted into the U.S. Army on May 4, 1954, in Cape Girardeau. He was honorably discharged, a private first class, on July 26, 1956, at Fort Sheridan, Ill.

He worked 15 years with the Cape Girardeau County Highway Department, but he is better known as a lifelong farmer. He and Mary Ann owned a Missouri Century Farm, where Orville raised both registered Hereford and registered Angus cattle. In later years, he rekindled his interest in horses and riding.

Orville was a member of Altenthal-Joerns American Legion Post 151 in Jackson; a former 4-H leader; and had received numerous awards and recognitions for his cattle, including the SEMO Fair Herdsman Award in 2004 and Honorary Membership from the Southeast Missouri State University Agriculture Department in 1982.

He was a 15-year member of Christ Lutheran Church in Gordonville and a former member of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Tilsit, holding various offices in both congregations.

He is survived by his loving wife of 54 years, Mary Ann of Jackson; a son, Steven O. (Patsy) Birk of Gordonville; a daughter, Bonnie (Terry) Pohlman of Oak Ridge; five grandchildren, Logan Birk (fiancee Garret Light), Paige Birk, Cody Abernathy, Amy (Adam) Thomas, Ryan (Lindsey) Pohlman; three great-grandchildren, Lane Pohlman, Austin Thomas, Kyndra Abernathy; three brothers, Loyd Birk and Glen Birk of Jackson, Donald Birk of Eldorado Springs, Mo.; a sister, Alice Ahrens of Jackson; and a brother-in-law, Edward Hennecke of Gordonville.

He was preceded in death by his parents and an infant brother.

Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. today at the McCombs Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Jackson, and from 9:30 a.m. to time of service Tuesday at Christ Lutheran Church in Gordonville.

The funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at the church, with the Rev. Gary Hoffstetter officiating. Interment will be in Russell Heights Cemetery in Jackson, with full military honors.

Memorials may take the form of contributions to Christ Lutheran Church General Fund, or a church or charity of your choice.

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