Leo Alfred Birch

WATTERS, BIRCH, SCHARFF, WILSON, BRITTON, PENDLEY, WALLACE, HITZLER, BOYER, HARRY, BRIMMER, SCOTT, KAMMERUDE

Posted By: Mary Durr (email)
Date: 10/15/2002 at 20:15:28

Leo Alfred Birch

Leo A. Birch, 72, of 1292 Thomas Place, died at 2:15 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 13, 2002, at Mercy Medical Center - Dubuque.

Services will be at 9:30 a.m. Friday at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, with burial in Dubuque Memorial Gardens, south of Dubuque. Friends may call from 3 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Behr Funeral Home, 1491 Main St., where there will be a parish wake service at 7:30 p.m.

Mr. Birch worked at A. Y. McDonald Mfg. Co. for 10 years. He later became a tree trimmer and was employed by RS Bacon Veneer Co., in Dubuque. He also drove the mini-bus for Project Concern for about 10 years.

He was born on Nov. 1, 1929, in Dubuque, son of Leo A. and Leona (Watters) Birch. He married Imelda Scharff on March 25, 1952, in Dubuque; she died on Jan. 21, 1993.

He served in the National Guard from 1946-1948. He was a musician and played the bass guitar with his friends for fun and also entertained at various nursing homes. He belonged to the Country Drifters Band and played lead guitar. Leo was also involved in the Foster Grandparent Program at Holy Trinity Church.

Surviving are three daughters, Mary Birch, of Dubuque, Lorie (Kenneth) Wilson, of Dubuque, and Lona (Jay) Britton; seven sons, William "Bill" (Shirley) Birch, Steven P. Birch (Babs Long), Dan R. Birch (Connie McDonald), Kenny J. (Katey) Birch, Leo "Sam" Birch (Michelle Young), Louie J. Birch and Kevin L. Birch (Jodie Reisdorf), all of Dubuque; 31 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; seven sisters, Mrs. Harold (Darlene) Pendley, of Rogers, Neb., Mrs. William (Barbara) Wallace, of Tipton, Iowa, Mrs. James (Jeannie) Hitzler, of Pembroke Pines, Fla., Mrs. Tony (Sylvia) Hitzler, of Dubuque, Mrs. Cal (Elly) Boyer, of Dubuque, Mrs. Jim (Elaine) Harry, of Dubuque, and Mrs. Roger (Theresa) Brimmer, of East Dubuque, Ill.; four brothers, Allen "Bobby" (Lucille) Birch, of Dubuque, David (Diane) Birch, of Belmont, Calif., Burton "Birdie" (Cheryl) Birch, of Redwood City, Calif., and Jerry (Nancy) Birch, of East Dubuque.

He was preceded in death by a son, Lynn Birch, in 1990, and four sisters, Leona "Tiny" Scott, Velma Kammerude, Shirley Birch and Shelba Jean Birch.

A Leo A. Birch Memorial Fund has been established.

Newspaper clipping from the Dubuque Telegraph Herald.