Shirley Jean Birk

Shirley Jean Birk, 89, of Cape Girardeau, formerly of Tamms, Illinois, passed away Sunday, August 24, 2025, at her home.

She was born January 29, 1936, in Sikeston, Missouri, to Sidney F. and Virginia Lynch Hornback. She was a graduate of Matthews High School. She was first employed as a waitress in Sikeston, and the worked a few years at Southwestern Bell.

At the age of 21, she married Charles E. Birk on June 30, 1957, at Concordia Lutheran Church in Sikeston. The couple made their home and started their family on a farm in Tamms. Charles farmed, and while the children were young, Shirley devoted her full attention to homemaking. When the youngest of their three children started school, Shirley first enrolled at Shawnee Community College, and later SEMO University, receiving her bachelor’s degree in education in five years. She then taught grades four and six for 25 years, retiring in 2000.

The Birks were faithful members of St. Andrew Lutheran Church in Cape Girardeau. They had been married 53 years when Charles passed away July 13, 2010.

Shirley loved holding, hugging, and kissing her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. They remember her as a cuddly, generous, forgiving, noncritical person, always willing to offer another chance. Their young minds were impressionable, and they remember her explaining that she often used her waitress paychecks to help provide for her ten siblings.

To cherish her memory, she leaves a daughter, Gena (Raymond) Oxford of McClure, Illinois; daughter-in-law, Yvonne (late Gary) Birk of Tamms; a sister, Rita (Wayne) Wright of Bloomfield, Missouri; grandchildren, Carmen and Kyle Birk, Derek (Erika) McNelly, Jessica Bigham, Jordan Oxford, and Kara (Scott) Green; great-grandchildren, Breyden and Bracelee Martin, Juliana, Devon, and Daelan McNelly, Jayleah, Jacelynn, and Jentry Bigham, Harlow and Posie Oxford; and another Baby McNelly anticipated in October.

She was preceded in death by her husband; two sons, Charles E. Birk, Jr. and Gary Birk; a great-granddaughter, Chasity Gathright; and nine siblings: Jerry, Gary, Harry, Wayne, Joe, Rex, and Marty Hornback, Patsy Poucher and Betty Edwards.

Visitation is from 4 to 8 p.m., Thursday, August 28, 2025, at McCombs Funeral Home in Cape Girardeau, and from 9 a.m. to service time, Friday, August 29, 2025, at St. Andrew Lutheran Church in Cape Girardeau.

The Rev. Tim Koehler will conduct the funeral service at 10 a.m., Friday, August 29, at the church. Interment will follow at Lindsey Cemetery in McClure.

If considering a memorial contribution, the family suggests St. Andrew Lutheran Church Mission Fund.

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