Joseph Birrenkott

Joseph Birrenkott

DAWSON - Joseph Leo Birrenkott, 72, Dawson, passed away on Nov. 6, 2008, at St. Alexius Medical Center. Services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Monday, Nov. 10, at St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church, Steele, with the Rev. Jerome Hunkler officiating. Burial will be in Dawson Cemetery.

Visitation will be held from 2 to 9 p.m. Sunday at Eastgate Steele Chapel, where an evening prayer service will be held at 7 p.m. Visitation will continue on Monday one hour prior to the service at the church.

Joe was born June 4, 1936, in Steele, the son of Joe W. and Mary (Schmidt) Birrenkott of Dawson. He grew up on the family farm north of Dawson, attended Vernon Township Country School, then graduated from Dawson High School in 1954. In 1956, he married Rosemarie Keily in Tappen at St. Paul's Catholic Church.

Joe was a hard worker all of his life and instilled his work ethic in his children. He worked at Peavey Elevator and Lumber in Cleveland and Washburn, Klein Lumber in Bismarck and Hanson Lumber in Dickinson. In 1973, he returned to the family farm near Dawson, where he remained until the end of his life.

He was a former member of the North Dakota Lamb and Wool Producers, past president of the Kidder County Wool Pool, and he ran an area Tele-Auction for the selling of sheep. He was also a Vernon Township assessor for many years.

Joe was known for not only his quick wit and humor, but also for his ability to converse with whoever came his way. His sister stated that he could make a broomstick talk to him! Joe had a passion for politics. He loved his family more than anything, and he loved family gatherings that included his immediate and extended family and friends. Anyone was welcomed into the Birrenkott home for a meal. He enjoyed a good song, a waltz, a cup of coffee and a cigarette with his friends and family. Although he will be missed by those he touched, his life will go on through his family. He will forever be in his family's hearts.

Joe left behind so many friends and family, but most importantly the mother of his children, Rosemarie Birrenkott; and his children, Joe D. Birrenkott and his wife, Nancy, Casselton, and their children, Sarah, Bridget, Joseph and Benjamin; Tim Birrenkott and his wife, Christina, Steele, and their children, Pamela, Michael, Grace and Andrew; John Birrenkott, Steele, and his children, Jacob, William and Edwin; Paul Birrenkott, Steele; Sharon Birrenkott (daughter-in-law), Steele, and her children, Danielle and Samantha; Mary Dewald and her husband, James, Steele, and their children, Alissa and Jared; Bill Birrenkott and his wife, Rae, Jamestown, and their children, David and Tyler; and Kathleen Moch and her husband, Trevor, Minot, and their children, Madison, Alex, Sterling and Gabriel. Joe also left behind two great-grandchildren, Matthew Birrenkott and Mason DeVore; his sister, Mary (Al) Kosel; his brothers, John (Sylvia) Birrenkott and Mike Birrenkott; and his sister-in-law, Myrna Birrenkott.

Preceding Joe in death were his parents, Joe and Mary Birrenkott; his son, Jim Birrenkott; his brothers, Lawrence and Harold Birrenkott; and his sister-in-law, Lavonne Birrenkott.

Go to www.eastgatefuneral.com to share memories of Joe and to sign the online guest book.