Vernon R. Birky, 91, Of Valparaiso passed away peacefully on Saturday, February 25, 2023. He was born August 16, 1931 In Kouts to Dean & Hazel (Fleener) Birky, graduated from Kouts High School, and served proudly with the U.S. Army in Korea earning a Purple Heart. Vernon made his career as a sheet metal worker for Suburban Homes for many years before concluding with the City of Valparaiso Sanitation Department. He was a longtime member of Valparaiso Mennonite Church which recently became Crossing Community Church. Vernon loved to travel to his son’s farm in Kouts where he could help with the chores, especially hay baling well into his 80’s.
On August 11, 1956 he married Shirley A. Hopkins who preceded him in death in 2006. Survivors include their children; Michael R. (Cindy) Birky of Kouts, Terry L. Davis & David A. Birky both of Valparaiso, grandchildren; Joshua Davis, Sara Szarley, Cherish DeLeon & Jordan Davis, and seven great-grandchildren. He was also preceded in death by one granddaughter, Mary Grace Birky, siblings: Lloyd & Eldon Birky, Alvena Dunham & Lorna Birky.
A visitation will be held Tuesday at Moeller Funeral Home, Valparaiso from 10 am – 12 noon. The funeral service will be held at Crossing Community Church, 1305 Silhavy Rd., Valparaiso beginning at 1:00 pm and burial to follow at Hopewell Mennonite Cemetery, Kouts. Memorial donations may be made to Crossing Community Church.
GUESTBOOK
To the Birky family I am very sorry for your loss. I was just thinking today about Suburban Homes and the evolution of that business and I thought about some of the early employees of the business that I worked with as a young teenager in the 1960's. Today I looked up Vern Birky online and I see he is no longer with us. I worked in the little Evans Av plant and then later at the South Haven plant. I liked to watch Vern work. I remember he was very fussy about his metal work, very steady. While some other guys were joking around and featherbedding Vern was on autopilot. Methodical, never letting up, never missing a beat. He was a whizz on that big press brake. It was kinda hard work but he made it seem like he could do it in his sleep. On this cold winter day I am think about the air pushing through all of that ductwork that he had his hands on. Duct work that will probably still be in place 100 years from now. He was more than a sheet metal worker. His effort was foundational to the success of Suburban Homes. My father had a very high opinion of Mr. Birky. He was a terrific worker, and a terrific person. I'm glad he lived a long life. Again, very sorry for your loss. -Tom Saylor
