Howard Christian Birky

Howard Christian Birky, 81, passed away Sunday, February 6, 2022, at the Schowalter Villa, Hesston, Kansas. Howard was born to Harvey Christian and Prudence (Habegger) Birky on January 27, 1941, in Goshen, Indiana. His sister, Grace (Birky) Busenitz was his only sibling, born three years earlier. Howard’s childhood years were spent living first in Illinois and Indiana, and then Florida and Alabama where his parents served with the Children’s Bible Mission. While his parents ministered to children and families in southern states, Howard also came to realize his need for forgiveness of sin and trusted Jesus as his Savior. Howard attended high school at Ben Lippen, a Christian boarding school in Asheville, North Carolina, and Bethany Christian High School, Goshen, Indiana, where he graduated in 1959. The Birky family had moved to Goshen, Indiana in 1958, and established the Bible Memory Ministries among Mennonite Churches. After attending Goshen College for three years, Howard transferred to Grace University in Omaha, Nebraska, graduating with a B.A. degree in 1965. He enjoyed the college environment and made many friends with whom he stayed connected throughout the years. Howard and Anna Beth (Unruh) were married June 25, 1966, in Hesston, Kansas, and immediately entered Mennonite Voluntary Service. The first 18 months were spent in Marlboro, Alberta, Canada, where they supported the local church program in a Metis Indian village and were active in community development. After completing their voluntary service assignment in Corpus Christi, Texas, teaching kindergarten, they studied at the Spanish language school in Edinburg, Texas, and assumed leadership responsibilities in a Spanish mission church in Premont, Texas. During this time, their daughter Mary was born. In early 1973, Howard entered training with Provident Bookstore in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, for seven months and daughter Elisabeth was born. Howard worked at Provident Bookstore in Goshen, Indiana and later as a graphic arts buyer at Scripture Press in Wheaton, Illinois, producing Christian curriculum. During this time, Sara, Hannah, and John joined the family. In the early 1980’s, Howard and Anna Beth decided to move to central Kansas to be closer to relatives. His sister had married a Kansas farmer, and Howard’s parents also spent retirement years in Hesston. After selling their Illinois home, the Birky family lived in Hesston, Kansas, for six years. Howard taught two years at the Newton Bible Christian School, and then worked at King Construction and later AGCO, from which he retired in 2010. During his early retirement years, Howard had several surgeries. He recovered to the extent that he could still do outdoor work, which he enjoyed so much. In the years before the family moved to Kansas, Howard often expressed the desire for “a place in the country.” This came true when the family purchased and moved into the Unruh family home place near Goessel. Howard thoroughly enjoyed working outside on the three acres, doing mowing, trimming, planting, and gardening. Garden catalogs, which arrived shortly after the holidays, were his favorite reading material. He has left his imprint on the home place for more than 33 years! Howard enjoyed other interests as well. He carried a great concern for the welfare of other men who were husbands, dad, grandfathers, or even singles. Wherever the family lived and attended church, he would encourage and usually assume responsibility for men’s ministry through helping to plan and facilitate men’s prayer breakfasts, retreats and other activities. He also thoroughly enjoyed serving as a board member of Goessel’s Mennonite Heritage & Agricultural Museum for a number of years. Mowing the museum lawn in the summers, helping with maintenance projects, assisting with museum fund-raising activities – all these were things which Howard enjoyed. Howard loved children and enjoyed visits from his children, their spouses, and grandchildren. The annual summer gathering of his kids and grandkids called the “Birky Family Camp” was a time he looked forward to. He would make available equipment for activities for the grandkids to enjoy. He maintained bicycles and gave rides with his garden tractor pulling the utility trailer. A great honor was given to Howard just in the past week when the 16th grandchild was born on February 1, 2022, and named Peter Howard Kroeker. Faithfulness was a characteristic Howard displayed throughout his life. Often times this meant persisting in an assignment that others might consider menial or non-essential. However, he showed a willingness to “keep at it,” without expecting recognition or applause. Howard was faithful to his family, his church, and his Lord. Preceding Howard in death were his parents, Harvey and Prudence Birky; sister, Grace Busenitz; and brothers-in-law, Bob and Jim Unruh. Howard is survived by his wife, Anna Beth of Goessel; five children and their spouses, Mary (Mark) Collier of Omaha, Nebraska, Liz (Chad) Peters of Lincoln, Nebraska, Sara (Ted) Tucker of Dayton, Tennessee, Hannah (Mike) Kroeker of LeRoy, Minnesota, and John (Lisa) Birky of the Middle East; 16 grandchildren; brother-in-law, William Busenitz of Potwin, Kansas; and sister-in-law, Karen Unruh of Hesston, Kansas. A memorial service is planned for 11 a.m., Saturday, February 12, at the Goessel Church, Goessel, Kansas. Family will greet friends from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m., Friday, February 11, at Miller-Ott Funeral Home, Goessel. Memorial contributions may be made to Bible Memory Ministries or Goessel Heritage Museum, in care of Miller-Ott Funeral Home, PO Box 96, Goessel, Kansas 67053.

Howard Christian Birky

January 27, 1941 - February 6, 2022