Richard Birk

Our loving husband, father and grandfather Richard Leon Birk, 86, of Orem, Utah passed away Tuesday, November 24, 2020. His life and legacy has been felt and will be remembered by many.

Richard was born January 18, 1934, in American Fork, Utah, to Albert Thornton Birk and Mary Virginia Clinger. His early life was spent growing up in southern California with his three younger sisters Diana, Janis and Joyce. While attending George Washington High School he met the love of his life, Janice Jenelle Miska. They were married on June 6, 1953 in Los Angeles, California and were sealed in the Los Angeles LDS Temple November 19, 1959. Richard served in the US Coast Guard as a sonarman early in he and Jenelle's marriage. He had a natural talent under the hood of a car and after being mentored by his father-in-law, Ed Miska, Richard began his professional career in the automotive industry as a mechanic for Cadillac. He then moved up the corporate ladder and held management positions with Datsun, Toyota, Chrysler and finally BMW which took him and his family from California to Colorado and later on to Utah where he retired and spent the rest of his life. He enjoyed camping and was an avid fisherman spending most of his time fishing the Provo river or one of Utah's many lakes with his three sons, ten grandchildren and countless neighbors and friends. He was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served in many positions including temple worker, counselor in a bishopric and as a missionary with Jenelle at the Provo Missionary Training Center.  A natural born singer and actor, he took every opportunity to participate in church-sponsored road shows and local community productions.

Richard is survived by his dear wife Jenelle, his children Scott (Julie) Birk of Molalla, Oregon; Lisa (Ron) Kowallis of San Antonio, Texas; Amy Jenelle Birk of Orem, Utah; Jeff (Brittany) Birk of Draper, Utah; 10 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his son David Aaron Birk, Ashton Matthew Birk (great grandson) and Jonathan Scott Birk (grandson).

Funeral services will be held Thursday, December 3, 2020, at 11 a.m. at the Sundberg Olpin Mortuary located at 495 South State Street in Orem, Utah. A viewing for friends and family will be held Wednesday evening from 6 to 8 p.m. and on Thursday just prior to the service from 10 to 10:45am at Sundberg Olpin Mortuary. Burial will be at Eastlawn Memorial with military rites by the American Legion. The family would like to thank all the wonderful caregivers at Summerfield Retirement and Envision Hospice for their gracious and exceptional care extended over the past few months. To comply with COVID-19 guidelines, attendance at the funeral will be open to family members only.

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