Wallace "Wally" Edwin Birk, 87, Gridley, died April 27, 2019, at the Coffey County Hospital.

Wally was born on November 21, 1931, in rural Gridley, to Carl and Emma Knapp Birk.

Wally grew up at Gridley and graduated from Gridley High School in 1951. He worked in the oil fields and farmed around Gridley.

On March 16, 1951, he married Margaret Nadine Sutton, in Emporia. She died on March 22, 2013.

He was a member of St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church and a 50-year member of the Knights of Columbus Council #6055. He was one of the original founders of the Council. He had served on the F.S.A. Board, the F.H.A. Board, a was a winner of the Farm Bureau Conservation Award.

Wally was also preceded in death by his parents, a brother, Ron Birk, and a grandson, Lance Birk.

Wally is survived by his sons, Douglas (Marcia) Birk, Burlington, Jeffrey (Gwen) Birk, and Daniel (Debra) Birk, both of Gridley, and Brian (Marlas) Birk, Burlington, his daughters, Debra (Glen) Isch, Gridley and Patricia (Jeff) Beyer, Burlington, his brothers, Wayne Birk, Burlington, Vernon (Bev) Birk, Gridley, and Royal (Suzanne) Birk, CA, his sisters, Ruth Smock, Wichita, and Lois (Bill) Bashaw, Overland Park, a sister in law, Nellie Birk, Burlington, 20 grandchildren, 38 great grandchildren, 1 great great grandson, other relatives and friends.

Mass of Christian Burial will be Tuesday, April 30, 2019, 10:00 A.M., at the St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church, Burlington. There will be a Rosary at 6:30 P.M., Monday at the funeral home. Visitation following 7:00 P.M. until 8:00 P.M. Burial will be in the Calvary Cemetery. Contributions can be made to the St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church and may be sent in care of Jones Funeral Home, P.O. Box 277, Burlington, KS 66839.