Birckbichler

James A. "Berky" Birckbichler, 91, formerly of North Elm Street in Butler, died Saturday at the VA Butler Healthcare.

He was born Oct. 30, 1918, in Butler, a son of the late Henry F. and Cora Williams Birckbichler.

Berry was a conductor on the Bessemer and Lake Erie Railroad. He worked for 38 years and retired in 1977.

During World War II, he was an ordinance man in the U.S. Army.

He was a member of St. Paul Roman Catholic Church in Butler and was a former member of the Eagles Club in Butler.

He enjoyed hunting and fishing, traveling in his motor home and all his neighborhood puppies.

His wife, Dorothy L. Litzenberg Birckbichler, preceded him in death on Feb. 25, 1989.

Surviving are two daughters and their husbands, Gayle and Robert Dufford of West Sunbury and Cheryl and Charles Cobern of Butler; four grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

He was the last surviving member of his immediate family and was preceded in death by three brothers and three sisters.

<B>BIRCKBICHLER </B>— Friends of James A. "Berky" Birckbichler, who died Saturday, April 24, 2010, will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday at the <B>Geibel Funeral Home</B>, 201 E. Cunningham St., Butler. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Wednesday at St. Paul Roman Catholic Church in Butler. Entombment will follow at the Greenlawn Mausoleum.The St. Paul Guild and Christian Mothers will meet at 9:40 a.m. Wednesday at the church to recite the rosary.Memorial donations may be made to Butler Visiting Nurses Association, 154 Hindman Road, Butler, PA 16001; the Butler Area Agency on Aging, 111 Sunnyview Circle, Suite 101, Butler, PA 16001; or the Colonial Gardens Guest Home, 121 Steppland Road, Butler, PA 16001.Information also is available at www.geibelfuneralhome.com.