Clare Elmer Birkenbach

RANCHO BERNARDO
Clare Elmer Birkenbach
of San Diego passed away peacefully at Scripps La Jolla Hospital at age 81 on December 27, 2020.Born in Tawas Township to John and Fern Birkenbach and grew up in East Tawas, Michigan. Red, as everyone knew him, attended Tawas Area High School, moved to California in 1961, and married Linda Arvizu from Los Angeles, California on November 2, 1963. Red and Linda had two children, Jay J. Birkenbach and Teri Lynn Birkenbach, and divorced in 1984. He married America Lucia Arredondo (and her three sons) on April 12, 1987. Red enjoyed reading, camping, and country music. Once an entrepreneur, he was a man with a strong work ethic and retired from the plastics business after 43 years. Red was a resilient man; he was also a unique and rare person of matchless integrity, rationality, fairness, generosity, and strong moral character. He will be remembered as a loving and devoted husband, father, and grandfather. He is survived by his loving wife, America Lucia Birkenbach; his daughter, Teri Lynn Birkenbach; three sons, Joel (Ana) Batule, Jorge (Julie) Monraz, and Sam Monraz; nine grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; his sisters, Nancy Voag, Kathy (Bob) Markiewicz, and Jackie Colburn; his brother, Richard Long and his life-long friend and comrade Terry Tanner; as well as and many nieces, nephews, cousins and in-laws. He was preceded in death by his son and former wife, Jay and Linda; his parents, his sister, JoAnn Muchow; and brothers, Bill Cox and Jack Herrer. Cremation has taken place according to his wishes. Memorial services are pending and will be followed by burial in Rose Hills Memorial Park & Cemetery, Whittier, CA. Please sign the guest book online at legacy.com/obituaries/ pomeradonews Clare Elmer Birkenbach October 7, 1939 - December 27, 2020