Clarence Elton Birch, 87, of Burwell, Nebraska died November 2, 2012 at the Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney, Nebraska.
Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Friday, November 9, 2012 at the Burwell Baptist Church in Burwell, Nebraska. Burial will be in Cottonwood Cemetery in Burwell, Nebraska. Pastor Scott Reeve will officiate. Visitation will be from 5 -8 p.m. at Hitchcock Funeral Home in Burwell. Memorials are suggested to the Burwell Ambulance Supply Fund.
Clarence was born September 20, 1925 in Rock County, Nebraska. Clarence went through the eighth grade. He ranched with his family until he married Dorothy Tetschner on June 30, 1946 at her parent’s home east of Burwell, Nebraska in Jones Canyon. They farmed for several years before moving to Missouri where they ran a grocery store for a year. They then moved back to Nebraska in 1953. Clarence and Dorothy traveled with their family, while he worked several years for Missouri Valley Construction Company building Nebraska highways and returning to Burwell for the winters. Clarence then worked in Burwell hauling gravel and he later worked at Great Western Gas Company until he retired in 1990.
Clarence gave incredible faithful care for Dorothy until her death on April 19, 2006.
Clarence loved woodworking in his retirement years. Clarence also had a passion for gardening with his daughter –in-law, Stephanie and his Burwell grandchildren, Jacob, Rebekah and Barak. He enjoyed going to his grandchildren’s sporting events and other school activities. Clarence was active in the Burwell Baptist Church.
Clarence is survived by four sons: Dale and Barbara Birch of Colorado Springs, Colorado, Dean and Patti Birch of Omaha, Nebraska, Lee and Carol Birch of Hesston, Kansas and Dwaine and Stephanie Birch of Burwell, Nebraska. Fifteen grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. A son-in-law, Robert Depew of Grove City, Pennsylvania. A brother, Russell and Lola Birch of Grand Island, Nebraska and two sisters, Doris Herschberger of Albuquerque, New Mexico and Virginia and Charles Blackman of St. George, Utah.
Clarence was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, a daughter, Susan Depew and a sister Dorothy Barrow.
