Glen W. Birk

God needed someone to till the earth, grow crops and tend his animals to help feed his people, so he made farmers and on May 25, 2025, one such farmer, Glen Birk, was called to his eternal home.

Born in Tilsit, August 21, 1935, the third son to Martin and Martha [Best] Birk, Glen learned early to work hard, appreciate family, love the Lord and farming. He attended Immanuel Grade School and graduated in the class of 1953 from Jackson High School. Immanuel Lutheran Church in Tilsit has been a central point in Glen’s life.  As a lifetime member of the church, it has seen many highlights of his life - he was baptized as an infant, confirmed as a youth and married as a young man to Alice Fluegge on June 5, 1955. Together they raised four sons, attended church, worked on the farm and will both be interred at Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery.

Many days, Glen got up early, fed and checked the cattle and hogs, worked all day in the fields, fed the animals again, grabbed a quick bite to eat and went to a meeting that ended past bedtime. At his church, he served as President, Elder, Secretary, Sunday School superintendent and teacher. Glen was a strong advocate of agriculture. He enjoyed reading and learning new farm related techniques and in 1976 the University of Missouri honored Glen and Alice with a State Farm Management award. He was a producer of purebred beef cattle - first Polled Herefords and later Angus - hogs and grain crops. His passion for farming and willingness to stand for what he saw as right gave him a respected name and a place of service on numerous state, regional and county boards and committees. Glen’s past service included many years on the SEMO District Fair Board with more than forty years assisting in the Livestock Department of the fair; a member of the organizing board of the Missouri Show-Me-Select Heifer program; a member of the board of the Missouri Polled Hereford Association; past-President of the Cape County Soil & Water Conservation District; a member of the Cape County Extension Council; a twenty year 4-H beef project leader and a member of the Jackson FFA Ag Advisory Committee. Glen was a current member of the American Angus Association, Missouri Angus Association and the SEMO and Missouri Cattlemen’s Association.

Glen greatly cared for his community. He had a strong interest in improving transportation infrastructure and served on state and county committees related to roads and bridges, including Commissioner of the former Byrd Township Road District.

Glen was most proud of his family and loved them very much. He enjoyed the laughter of his many grandchildren, farm talks with his family and encouraging them in their faith in God.  At family gatherings, he would often express that love and gratitude before saying a prayer, emphasizing his hope that all his family know Jesus as Lord and Savior.

Glen and loving wife of nearly 70 years, Alice, were blessed to see their family grow from four sons, to include twelve grandchildren, ten great-grandchildren, and were even more blessed that they all live locally:  oldest son Terry and wife, Lynn, and family – Chad Birk, a member of the heavenly welcoming committee; Josh and Kelly, sons Cort and Kade Birk; Clay and Storm, son Colby and daughter Chloe Birk; second son, Ralph Birk and his family - Eric Birk; Brad and Heather (Birk), sons Mason, Wyatt and Emmett Gaines.; third son, Kelvin and wife, Marsha, and family – Kelsie (Birk) and husband Charlie, son Bodie, daughter, Birkley Meier; Adam and Crystal Birk; youngest son, Dale and wife, Ariel, and family – oldest son, Austin and his son, Austin Jared Birk and step-daughter, Leiloni; Jared Birk (also a member of the heavenly committee); daughters, Hope and Nowella Birk, son Hayden Birk, and step-daughter Isley Lee.

In addition to his immediate family, those that survive him include a brother, Don and wife, Linda, Birk of El Dorado Springs, Missouri; brother-in-law, Charles (late Alice) Ahrens of Jackson and many nieces and nephews.

Glen was fortunate to know the love of a big family, but he also knew the loss of those he loved.  Gone before him were his parents; brothers, Loyd and wife Vera Birk; Orville and wife Mary Birk; sister, Alice (Birk) Ahrens; infant brother Roland Richard Birk; and the hardest to take, two grandchildren, Chad Ryan Birk and Jared Ryan Birk.

Visitation is from 4 to 7 p.m., Wednesday, May 28, 2025, at McCombs Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Jackson, and Thursday, May 29, 2025, from 10 to 11 a.m., at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Tilsit.  Rev. Mark Boettcher will conduct the funeral service at 11 a.m., Thursday, at the church.  Interment will follow at the church cemetery.

If considering a memorial contribution, the family suggests Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery.

Online condolences may be sent to the family by clicking on the tribute wall tab above Glen’s obituary article at mccombsfuneralhome.com.

Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery (Tilsit)
496 St. Hwy. F, Jackson MO 63755
Tel: 1-573-204-4700
Email: pastormab5@gmail.com
Web: http://fineagrave.com/cemetery/