Obituary of Carl Birk

Carl Birk, 94, of Fort Atkinson, WI, passed away December 1, 2023, after a short illness. 

He was born to parents Carl “Pat” Theodore and Ina Bell (Marsden) Birk, on March 1, 1929, in Chicago, IL. He grew up in Fort Atkinson and graduated from high school there in 1947. He worked for Waterman, Fuge & Associates in Fort Atkinson as a draftsman. He became certified as a plumbing and electrical designer from the University of Pittsburgh, and started his own business, P & E Systems, in 1969, specializing in plumbing and electrical design. 

He married Margaret (Baird) Birk on November 1957. They were together 58 years before her passing in 2016.  

Carl was proud of his service as a sergeant in Company C, 2nd Battle Group, 128th Infantry Regiment of the 32nd Division Red Arrows from May 1947 to August 1966. In 1961, during the Berlin Crisis, he was deployed for six months to Fort Lewis in Washington. He volunteered as a gun coach for the Fort Atkinson rifle team in the early 1970s. Additionally, Carl belonged to three veteran’s organizations: Co. C 128th Infantry, Old Timers, and the Red Arrow Club of Southern Wisconsin, and attended many reunions for these groups throughout the years.  

He was an active member of the Royal Order of the Jacks in Fort Atkinson for many years, helping with the annual banquets and pancake breakfasts along with other social activities for the group. One of his favorite past-times was playing the penny slot machines at Ho-Chunk Casino, enjoying many trips to the Madison and Wisconsin Dells locations. He also enjoyed collecting coins and stamps, playing cards (Poker, Euchre, Bridge, and Sheepshead) and Cribbage, reading Western novels, and eating out at his favorite restaurants (Stagecoach Inn, Red Lobster, Outback, Cracker Barrel, and I-Hop to name a few).  

Carl is survived by his son Carl Birk (Myrna), and daughters, Karen Birk (Paul Behling) and Barbara Birk as well as his granddaughters Dana Behling, Kirby (Caleb) Birk Attwell, and Isabel Birk; and brothers, Ed (Lorraine) Birk and Jim (Vicki) Birk along with nieces Jenny (Steve) Schroeder, Jamie Birk, Kelly Birk, and Stacy (Jennae) Tomlinson. 

He is preceded in death by his parents; wife; and brother, LeRoy. 

The family extends its sincere gratitude to Chris Patrick from Visiting Angels, Oak Park Place, and Rainbow Hospice for helping Carl.  

The family requests that people make donations to the National Guard Educational Foundation (https://www.ngef.org/donate/online-donation/) in lieu of sending flowers. 

A celebration of Carl’s life will be held at a later date.  

 

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