Vera Birk

Vera Mae Birk, 83, of Jackson passed away Saturday, March 30, 2019, at Villas of Jackson, where she enjoyed many friendships the past few years.

Vera was born April 18, 1935, south of Delta, to Otto W. and Martha A.C. Tuschhoff Bock. She was baptized June 13, 1935, at the parsonage of Christ Lutheran Church in Gordonville and confirmed March 21, 1948, at Zion Lutheran Church in Gordonville. She and Loyd Birk were married July 3, 1960, at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Chaffee, Missouri. Two children were born to their union, Christine and Philip. They had been married 57 years, when Loyd passed away Oct. 12, 2017.

She was a graduate of Delta High School and the former Cape Business College. She also attended Southeast Missouri State University.

Vera was a longtime member of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Jackson. She worked many years as a designer in local florists.

Vera lovingly supported Loyd's commitments to church, community and scouts. She enjoyed researching genealogy and collecting and displaying historical photos and documents. She wrote a book, "Living on the Toes of the Ozarks," which documents memories of her own and stories shared from generation to generation. Since World War II, Vera had a pen pal in Germany, a relationship that started because Vera left her address in a coat she donated.

Vera especially enjoyed family vacations, traveling the U.S. with Loyd and the children. She often remarked her most precious gifts were her church, husband, children and grandchildren, and her most joyous times were at Christmas with both her family and Loyd's family.

Loving survivors include 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 Pace, Florida, Allie (Caleb) Abernathy of Jackson, Nate (Emily) Buttram of Arlington, Virginia, 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 Pace; a brother, Wesley O. (Viola) Bock of Delta; two brothers-in-law, Glen (Alice) Birk of Jackson and Donald (Linda) Birk of El Dorado Springs, Missouri; a sister-in-law, Alice (Charles) Ahrens of Jackson; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband; two siblings, Nora N. (Alvin) Seabaugh and Lela M. (Joe) Hahn; her parents; and a brother-in-law, Orville (the late Mary Ann) Birk.

Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday at McCombs Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Jackson.

Funeral will be at 11 a.m. Friday at the funeral home, with the Rev. Jason Shaw officiating. Burial will follow at Russell Heights Cemetery in Jackson.

Memorials may take the form of contributions to Altar Guild of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Jackson or Southeast Hospice.

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