Luke A. Birky

Luke Amon Birky loved God, life, family, and the people he encountered throughout his life journey. He was a good listener, a safe and quiet presence, and was good at finding common ground when perspectives differed. He loved thinking about hard issues, and frequently posed thoughtful questions to stimulate a friendly conversation. Luke was a life-long learner, always finding new ways to accomplish difficult tasks with the resources on hand.

Born January 8, 1922 in Airlie, Oregon, he was the second child and son of Joseph Alvin and Sarah Alma (Kenagy) Birky. He spoke fondly of his childhood homes, many friends, communities, and a loving family. He attended 13 different schools before finishing school.

Luke was 19 years old when the United States entered World War II. He registered and was drafted as a conscientious objector in January 1943. He went to work in a Civilian Public Service (CPS) camp in LaPine, Oregon, helping build a reservoir. It was a new world and experience to live, work, and think with conscientious objectors from different states and different faith traditions. Later that year the LaPine CPS camp closed and he transferred to Belton, Montana to work in the maintenance shop. He applied and was accepted into smoke jumper school in January 1945. The school was a realized dream. The hikes and work necessary for trail maintenance and fighting forest fires were exhilarating experiences. Discharged in May 1946, he worked over the summer and entered Goshen College in the fall.

Luke met Verna Conrad at young people’s meeting at Fairview Mennonite Church in Oregon several years before he was drafted. They communicated while away from home and fell in love. In Luke’s first year of college, Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) asked him and Verna to consider an assignment at a hospital in LaPlata, Puerto Rico. They were married March 2, 1947 and attended orientation in Akron, PA before flying to Puerto Rico where Luke worked in maintenance services and Verna as an RN. Their first 4 children were born in the 6½ years they lived in LaPlata (The youngest was born later in Colorado.). Luke assumed the role of business office manager at the hospital in 1949. In 1953 he was asked to return to the United States and raise funds for a planned new Mennonite hospital in Aibonito, Puerto Rico. When he finished fund raising, the Mennonite Board of Missions and Charities asked Luke and Verna to move to La Junta, Colorado to study healthcare administration under the administrator of the Mennonite hospital. In 1955, a new hospital was completed in Rocky Ford, Colorado, and Luke assumed the role of administrator there. Three years later he became the administrator of the La Junta Hospital where he served until 1966.

Luke and Verna moved to Elkhart, Indiana in 1966 when Luke become Secretary of Health and Welfare for the Mennonite Board of Missions and Charities. He traveled and consulted with communities operating hospitals, care facilities, and retirement communities under the auspices of the Mennonite Church. In 1975 the Mennonite Home of Albany, a retirement community in Albany, Oregon, asked Luke to be the administrator. It was an opportunity to return home to Oregon, live near their aging parents and old friends again, and to travel less. He and Verna served in Albany until retiring in 1987. In a year of transition before full retirement, they worked for Goshen College as program directors for students studying in Costa Rica. They enjoyed their interaction with young people and using their Spanish language again. Returning to Oregon, Luke served as conference moderator for the Pacific Coast Mennonite Conference until 1993 when they moved to Goshen, Indiana to be near grandchildren. They became residents of Greencroft Retirement Community in 1999 and moved into assisted living in 2016 as Verna’s health declined. She died in October of 2017 after 70 years of marriage.

Luke was preceded in death by his wife, son Steve, parents, brother Elden and sisters Minerva, Ruth, and Lela, and one great-grandchild (Deanne Birky-Hartman). He is survived by his brother Wilbur of Goshen, Indiana. In addition, he is survived by children Karl Birky (Ginny) of Newberg, OR, Anne Birky (Goshen, IN), Kate Birky (Tim Welsh) of Payson, AZ, Rachel Hamilton (Steve) of Lake Elsinore, CA, and daughter-in-law Therese of Saverne, France. He is also survived by four grandchildren: Matthew Hamilton, Joseph Hamilton (Amy Epp), Angelique Birky-Hartmann (Simon Hartmann), Rosabeth Birky Koehn, and two great-grandchildren (Naomi Hamilton and Orie Hamilton).

Luke and Verna chose to follow God’s leading throughout their marriage and raised their children to be independent and caring. Even at the age of 100, Luke continued to use a computer, read theological books and articles, discuss moral actions, ride his trike, walk fast, and love God. He transitioned from this life to the next on September 3, 2022, leaving behind a legacy of a life well lived in the embrace of God.