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Rev John C Birkey

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Rev John C Birkey

Birth	:	11 Jul 1873 El Paso, Woodford County, Illinois, USA
Death	:	10 Dec 1952 Yale, Beadle County, South Dakota, USA
Burial	:	Pleasant View Cemetery, Milford, Seward County, USA
Coordinate	:	40.7557800, -97.1201200
Plot	:	Row 5 Space 18
Description	:	John C Birky Obit Funeral services were held at Milford Saturday for Rev. John C. Birky, 81, former resident of Milford and a missionary to China for 15 years, who died Wednesday in Huron, S. D. Rev.' Birkey, who left Milford four years ago, had been living in Yale, S. D., with a daughter, Mrs. Paul Bartel. Mrs. Bartel's husband, a minister, and Rev. Birkey's son, Rev. Roy J. Birkey, now of Ft. Wayne, Ind., have also served as missionaries to China. Mrs. Bartel and Rev. Roy Birkey are the only survivors. Services were held... Read More	John C Birky Obit Funeral services were held at Milford Saturday for Rev. John C. Birky, 81, former resident of Milford and a missionary to China for 15 years, who died Wednesday in Huron, S. D. Rev.' Birkey, who left Milford four years ago, had been living in Yale, S. D., with a daughter, Mrs. Paul Bartel. Mrs. Bartel's husband, a minister, and Rev. Birkey's son, Rev. Roy J. Birkey, now of Ft. Wayne, Ind., have also served as missionaries to China. Mrs. Bartel and Rev. Roy Birkey are the only survivors. Services were held at 2 p. m. at the MBC Church. Seward Independent Seward, Seward Co., NE Page 10 Wednesday, December 17, 1952 John C. Birkey was born on July 11, 1873 near Elpasco, Illinois to John and Jacobena Hochstettler Birkey. He died on December 10, 1952 in his eightieth year near Yale, South Dakota. On November 24, 1898 he and Amelia Mary Burkey were united in marriage in the Defenceless Mennonite Church near Berne, Indiana. To them were born one son, Roy John and one daughter, Ina Katherine. Both son and daughter have for many years served as missionaries to China. Surviving him are his son, Roy J. Birkey of Fort Wayne, Indiana, this daughter, Mrs. Paul H. Bartel of Wheaton, Illinois; two sisters, Mrs. Lydia Wagler of Peoria, Illinois and Mrs. Noah Grabill, of Grabill, Indiana; four grandchildren, Robert, Joan and Carol Bartel and John Richard Birkey and a host of relatives and friends. He chopped wood and worked as a day-laborer in order to earn the necessary funds to support national preachers and teachers in other lands. A t one time he supported a native preacher or teacher in each of the following countries: Africa, India and China. He became a charter member and was elected the first pastor of the Groveland Missionary Church at Groveland, Illinois. Here he ministered for a number of years. He was ordained to the Gospel ministry on Sept. 5, 1898. He was always eager to assist in pioneer projects. Later he moved with his family to eastern Nebraska and then again to western Nebraska. There he farmed and also preached in school houses. Eventually he was able to help build a church on property which he donated for that purpose. Although he had felt the call to foreign missionary service earlier in his ministry, yet it was not until 1913 that the way opened for him and his family to go out to China. For fifteen years they had the joy of working in north China and establishing a station where three to four hundred people would gather for the Sunday morning services. This brought great joy and satisfaction to him and his wife. Owing to political conditions in China and to Mrs. Birkey's failing health, they returned to the United States and located at Milford, Nebraska. There he served as pastor of the Mennonite Brethren in Christ Church for some time. Later he was appointed District Superintendent of the Mid-western District of the Missionary Church Association. In this capacity, he served for a number of years. The death of his beloved wife in 1941 was a great loss to him. Of her he wrote, "She was godly help mate rich in faith." Failing health kept him from further active service. He, however, gave himself to intensive reading of the Word and to much prayer for world-wide missions. He always followed with keen and prayerful interest the missionary work and travels of his son and daughter. At the time of his death he had read the Bible through sixty times. He left us his testimony in the words of a song he loved to sing so much: The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want, He maketh me down to lie In pastures green, He leadeth me The quiet waters by. His yoke is easy, His burden is light, I've found it so, I've found it so; He leadeth me by day and by night, Where living waters flow The Milford Review Milford, Seward Co., NE Page 4 Wednesday, December 24, 1952

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is Rev John C Birkey's memorial?
Rev John C Birkey's memorial is located at: Pleasant View Cemetery, Milford, Seward County, USA.
When did Rev John C Birkey death?
Rev John C Birkey death on 10 Dec 1952 in Yale, Beadle County, South Dakota, USA
Where are the coordinates of the Rev John C Birkey's memorial?
Latitude: 40.7557800
Longitude: -97.1201200

Family Members:

Parent

Spouse

Amelia M Burkey Birkey

(1869 - 1940)

Siblings

Children

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. Pleasant View Cemetery
Milford, Seward County, USA
Coordinate: 40.7557800, -97.1201200

2. East Fairview Cemetery
Milford, Seward County, USA
Coordinate: 40.7565000, -97.1000000

3. Milford Mennonite Cemetery
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Coordinate: 40.7703018, -97.0730972

4. West Mills Cemetery
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Coordinate: 40.7178001, -97.1294022

5. Englehaupt Cemetery
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Coordinate: 40.7416992, -97.1778030

6. Salem United Methodist Church Cemetery
Seward County, USA
Coordinate: 40.7997000, -97.1578000

7. Goldhammer Cemetery
Seward County, USA
Coordinate: 40.7132988, -97.0725021

8. Blue Mound Cemetery
Milford, Seward County, USA
Coordinate: 40.7625000, -97.0456000

9. West Fairview Mennonite Cemetery
Beaver Crossing, Seward County, USA
Coordinate: 40.7710000, -97.1978000

10. Ruby Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery
Ruby, Seward County, USA
Coordinate: 40.8131000, -97.0827000

11. First Methodist Cemetery
Goehner, Seward County, USA
Coordinate: 40.8292000, -97.1492000

12. Walnut Creek Cemetery
Goehner, Seward County, USA
Coordinate: 40.7853012, -97.2202988

13. Mount Pleasant Cemetery
Ruby, Seward County, USA
Coordinate: 40.8292007, -97.0550003

14. West Blue Cemetery
Milford, Seward County, USA
Coordinate: 40.6985664, -97.0265732

15. Dorchester Cemetery
Dorchester, Saline County, USA
Coordinate: 40.6638985, -97.1018982

16. Evangelical Lutheran Cemetery
Milford, Seward County, USA
Coordinate: 40.8137000, -97.0057000

17. Calvary Cemetery
Beaver Crossing, Seward County, USA
Coordinate: 40.7714005, -97.2564011

18. Camden Cemetery
Seward, Seward County, USA
Coordinate: 40.7167015, -96.9918976

19. Leonard Cemetery
Beaver Crossing, Seward County, USA
Coordinate: 40.7425003, -97.2739029

20. Beaver Crossing Cemetery
Beaver Crossing, Seward County, USA
Coordinate: 40.7820670, -97.2820720

21. Johnson Creek Cemetery
Friend, Saline County, USA
Coordinate: 40.6960983, -97.2731018

22. Mound Prairie Cemetery
Goehner, Seward County, USA
Coordinate: 40.8573380, -97.2344200

23. Faith Lutheran East Cemetery
Seward, Seward County, USA
Coordinate: 40.8572000, -97.0044000

24. Pleasant Dale Cemetery
Pleasant Dale, Seward County, USA
Coordinate: 40.8143997, -96.9475021