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Show Funeral Services Held Here For Louis Birk A large group of friends and neighbors paid final respects to Louis William Birk, Friday afternoon after-noon at 3 o'clock in the Third ward chapel. Profuse floral offerings attested at-tested to the love and esteem in which the family of Mr. Birk is held by the members of the community. Bishop Shelley was in charge of the services. The opening song, "Oh, My Father" was sung by the Third ward girls chorus and the invocation in-vocation was offered by E. H. Boley. Miss Maxine Taylor played a violin solo, "In the Garden of Tomorrow", she was accompanied on the piano by Miss Cloe Friday. Following the violin solo, Mrs. Violet Gardner read a biographical sketch of the life of Mr. Birk. Speakers for the occasion were I George E. Abel and Leo T. Shelley. Between the two speakers Miss Ber-nice Ber-nice Dastrup of Provo sang "That Silver Haired Daddy of Mine." Bishop Shelley made a few remarks and the closing song, "Going Home" was sung by Ray Shelley. The benediction bene-diction was offered by Leonard Harrington. Har-rington. Interment 'was made in the American Fork City cemetery where the grave was dedicated by Arthur Gardner. LIFE SKETCH OF LOUIS BIRK Louis William Birk was born July 28th, 1874, at Forest City in American Ameri-can Fork canyon, Utah, among the pines and forest trees where cool breezes blow and clear, cool water flows. He loved the quiet and solitude soli-tude of the canyon. His father, Frank Birk, was a captain in Company Com-pany G of the 28th Ohio Volunteer infantry during the Civil War. He was wounded in battle, and after four years of service was honorably discharged July 6th, 1865, receiving a medal from the U. S. Government for efficient service and bravery. He came to Utah in 1868, settling in American Fork where he died October Oc-tober 28th, 1886, leaving a widow and six children, three others haying hay-ing preceded him in death. Louis' I mr,fv,Qi- SaroVi Wnrriv Birk. came from Arnold, Nottingham, England, to American Fork in 1868. She left her home and loved one after joining join-ing the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She was the mother of ten children, seven sons and two daughters. Louis was 12 years old when his father died and 18 years old when his mother died, being the oldest child of the family. Much of his early life was spent . in American Fork City and American Fark canyon, can-yon, where he met and played as a child with his future wife, Susie Jones. Her father and mother were neighbors and dear friends of the Birk family. Louis attended the Presbyterian school in American Fork. He attended at-tended church in the old Science Hall under Bishop Halliday. He has often said how much he enjoyed these meetings and his activities there. He was married February 1, 1900, to Susie Jones. To them were born five children, two sons and three daughters, all of whom, with their mother, survive him. Louis Birk was among the first in American Fork to volunteer and enlist en-list for service in the Spanish American Amer-ican War. His activities as a miner took him away from his home much of the time. He was reliable and dependable in his work and did not wish to be dependent upon anyone. He was of a quiet retiring nature, never seeking worldly honors. He was honest and truthful, a true husband and father. To his wife and children and to his grandchildren grandchil-dren he stood for the right as he understood it. He was always industrious in-dustrious and worked hard, never wanting to be idle. He never spoke unkindly of those he knew. He appreciated ap-preciated the love and kindliness of his wife, the thoughtfulness of his children and of his brothers and sisters during his illness. During his illness he did not complain, com-plain, but hoped to be well again. He had faith in the Gospel and its teachings and believed them to be true. |