Birkey, Joseph D. (1880-1971)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1971 Dec 2 p. 10

Birth date: 1880 Nov 11

text of obituary:

JOSEPH D. BIRKEY

Joseph D., son of John and Catherine (Schrock) Birkey, was born in Woodford County, Illinois on Nov. 11, 1880 and passed away at the home of his son Roy in Brand Rapids, Mich. on Sept., 25, 1971 at the age of 90 years, 10 months and 14 days.

On Dec. 17, 1903 he was united in marriage to Elizabeth Oyer, who preceded him in death on Feb. 6, 1929. In 1914 the family moved from Dewey, Ill. to a farm near Clarksville, Mich., and in 1954 he moved to Grand Rapids with his son Ray and family.

He is survived by three sons and two daughters, Chester of Pompeii, Mich., Roy of Grand Rapids, Melvin of Goshen, Ind., Neva (Mrs. John Yordy) of Ashley, Mich. and Edna (Mrs. Melvin Stahl of Dafter, Mich.; two brothers, John and William of Manson, Iowa; two sisters, Lizzie (Mrs. Alpha Naffsiger of Rockwell City, Iowa and Katie (Mrs. Ben Zehr) of Manson, Iowa; 17 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren, and a large number of nieces and nephews.

One daughter, Lorena (Mrs. John Jackson), one sister, Lena (Mrs. David Springer), and two brothers, Andrew and Levi, preceded him in death.

He accepted Christ as his personal Saviour in his youth and was a member of the Bowne Mennonite Church near Clarksville, Mich., where services were conducted by Rev. Dan Zook assisted by Rev. Tobias Schrock. Burial was made in the adjoining cemetery.