ELMER J.  BIRKY, 93, of Cherokee, Iowa, passed away peacefully Sunday morning, May 20, 2018 at Accura Healthcare in Cherokee.

Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, May 23rd, at 10:30 a.m. at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Cherokee. Pastor Jon Riggert will officiate. Burial will be in the Oak Hill Cemetery at Cherokee, Iowa. There will be military rites at the cemetery by L.A. Wescott Post #2253 of the V.F.W. There will be a family prayer service at 10:15 a.m. at the church on Wednesday. Visitation will be on Tuesday from 2 p.m. until 7 p.m. with the family present from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. at the Boothby Funeral Home in Cherokee, Iowa. In lieu of flowers the family requests memorials to the Trinity Lutheran Church in Cherokee. Online condolences can be left at www.boothbyfuneral.com

Elmer was born August 25, 1924 at Beemer, Nebraska to Joseph & Phoebe (Keller) Birky. He graduated from Beemer High School in 1942. He served in the United States Marine Corps during WW II from 1945-1946. He was married to Renata Heller on December 29, 1955 at Wisner, Nebraska. Elmer had drove truck for livestock and gravel companies while living in Beemer, Nebraska.  They moved to Cherokee in April of 1959 and he worked for Walnut Grove for 30 years, retiring in April of 1989. He was a member of the Trinity Lutheran Church. Elmer enjoyed bowling and was secretary of the bowling league for several years. He also like to golf and was on the board at the Aurelia Golf Course for several years. He liked riding his motorcycle, woodworking, playing cards, watching the St. Louis Cardinals, and getting together with the guys in the morning and afternoon for coffee. He loved his family especially his grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents and two sisters Dorothy Farenholz and Caroline (George) Anderson.

He is survived by his wife Renata of Cherokee, Iowa; two children: Sandra (Brian) Martin of Storm Lake, Iowa; Lane (Erika) Birky of Cherry Valley, California; 4 grandchildren: A.J. Sam, Bella, and Alana; 8 sisters-in-laws and 2 brothers-in-law; also many nieces and nephews.