Denver D. Birkhofer

Denver D. "Birk" Birkhofer, 73, of Sioux City passed away Sunday, March 2, 2008, at Indian Hills Hospice Suite surrounded by family after a courageous battle with cancer.

Services will be 2 p.m. Saturday at Wesley United Methodist Church, with the Rev. Dan Anderson officiating. He will be laid to rest in Memorial Park Cemetery. Visitation with the family will be 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, with a prayer service lead by longtime family friend, the Rev. Kathy Olson, at 7 p.m., at Meyer Brothers Colonial Chapel, 3220 Stone Park Blvd. Condolences may be sent online to www.meyerbroschapels.com.

Denver was born July 14, 1934, in Denison, Iowa, the youngest of five children born to Elmer and Alice Pearl (Bramley) Birkhofer. He grew up in Schaller, Iowa, graduating from Schaller High School in 1952. He played football, basketball, baseball and was a talented trumpet player. After high school, he attended Morningside College on a music scholarship. At Morningside, he participated in basketball, baseball and met his wife, Sarah M. Yockey.

They were married Aug. 28, 1955. Following college graduation, he was drafted into the U.S. Army, where he served in 1957 until his honorable discharge in January 1963. He made his home in Sioux City, where he was vice president of finance and corporate secretary of Sioux City Foundry Company for 44 years.

He was an avid sports fan and followed his Morningside Mustangs on numerous "road trips." He was a proud former president of the Morningside M Club. He loved to travel with family and friends, hosting the annual Birk invitational golf outings throughout the Midwest. He loved polka music and attended any Oktoberfest in the area. He was a skilled craftsman and finished many "projects" for his family. He was a longtime member of Wesley United Methodist Church.

Survivors include his wife, Sarah M. (Yockey) Birkhofer of Sioux City; a son and his wife, Rick and Terri Birkhofer of Sioux City; two daughters, Vicki Birkhofer of Sioux City and Cathy and her husband, Ed Tounjian of Sioux Falls, S.D.; a sister and her husband, Bethine and Claude Bowen of Bloomington, Ill.; his sister-in-law, Jean Birkhofer of Wall Lake, Iowa; two grandsons, Nathaniel and Nicholas Birkhofer of Sioux City; two granddaughters, Casandra and Catrina Tounjian of Sioux Falls, S.D.; and many nieces, nephews and extended family.

He was preceded in death by his mother and father; brothers, David Birkhofer and Donald Birkhofer; and a sister, Thelma Beck.

Pallbearers will be Milton Petty, Michael Potash, Darrell Krommenhoek, Rick Armstrong, Joel Tasker and Rich Larson. Honorary pallbearers will be Gerald Lee, Andrew Galinsky, Alan Tasker, Cerold Jones and John Plesher.

Memorials may be sent to Morningside Athletic Fund, c/o Jerry Schmutte, 1501 Morningside Ave., Sioux City, IA. 51106.