Clifford Wayne Bircher

Clifford Wayne Bircher was born to Helen Rachel Grapes Bircher and Clifford Wayne Bircher, SR on March 20,1932 in Harrison, Nebraska. He passed away at home on January 24, 2018 with his wife Kathy, sister-in-law Mary Winter and niece Emma Winter at his side. His father worked for the Railroad. He died of cancer in Denver when Cliff was 6. His mother eventually settled with her three children in Lusk, Wyoming. There Cliff first went to work at the age of 9 working on a farm driving a team of mules. For 2 summers, he boarded on that farm, going to town once a month to take his wages to his mother. Visiting Lusk in 1988, the farmer's daughter told him and wife Kathy, "I remember you when you worked for us. You were such a little thing out there with those mules."

Cliff was known as "Junior" to his parents and many folks in childhood, "Birch" to many friends in high school. He played football, basketball and ran in track at Niobrara County High School in Lusk, graduating in 1950. When he was 12 his mother remarried to Virgil Quinn, a commercial painter and expert sign painter. Cliff and his brother Donald had to work with him while their friends enjoyed weekends and vacations. Throughout his life, sometimes sporadically, he kept in touch with school friend Ray Jenkins, still in Lusk and Ken Hinman, his college room mate in Chadron.

After high school Cliff married Erna Lee Baldwin. They had son Phillip and were awaiting their second child when Cliff joined the Marines during the Korean War. When he reached his camp in Korea, he was told son Harold had been born during his travel at sea. For nearly 60 years, he didn't talk much about the war. Snippets about some of the men was about it. He did spend his final night there visiting with all those he was leaving. His sincerity and kindness would be lifesaving as he later discovered an attack caused a direct hit through his tent, his sea bag and bed. Sgt. Bircher and his sea bag spent their final night in Korea in a foxhole. His first marriage ended in divorce.

Cliff began college in Casper, Wyoming then attended Nebraska State Teacher's College in Chadron, Nebraska. He wanted to teach High School Literature. After missing several days of classes a professor went to the Boarding House he roomed in to check on him. He was suffering from appendicitis. The local Doctor treated him initially and got him to a V.A. hospital. Because of complications, he nearly died. He gave up on college after a long recovery and went to work in the oil fields, working up on the derrick platforms, handling the chains. Eventually he would drive long-haul truck throughout much of the central US. Eventually that would take him to Broadus, Montana where he met and married Patsy Wetherelt.

He worked several years for General Dynamics at Atlas Missile Sites. Three children were born in different cities and one assignment took the young family to Champlain, New York. It was there a man looked at Cliff's western boots and wanted to hire him to break in his horses. Eventually he would return to Broadus and truck driving, but eventually would join cousins in Seattle, WA hoping for a job at Boeing. Before that happened he sold Prudential Insurance. In those days, he literally went to his clients homes once a week collecting premiums. The job at Boeing did happen, but like many neighbors, when the economy changed, fear of a layoff sent them looking for other jobs first. He worked for a time at Kenworth Motor Truck Manufacturing. He worked over 20 years at Seattle Boilerworks, retiring in 1995. His marriage to Patsy ended in divorce.

Two people found their soulmate and Cliff married Kathy Graham from Bend, Oregon on May 24,1988 in Renton, WA. They moved to Bend, OR in 1995 and to the Willamette Valley in 2002. The couple enjoyed great friends, family and neighbors, dancing, movies, Seattle Mariners and Seahawks. The most enjoyed concerts by Cliff would have to be Willie Nelson, TWICE, and Red Skelton. Cliff was a great cook and baker. The first dinner he prepared for Kathy and the friend who introduced them, was roast turkey and not on a holiday. Upon retirement, friends tried to lure him to Omak, WA to open a coffee shop featuring his famous pies.

In December of 2016 came the diagnosis of Alzheimer's. 7 months later would be the confirmation plus Vascular Dementia at Veteran's Medical in Portland. Before either could devastate our lives, Congestive Heart Failure, Kidney Disease, Diabetes and Macular Degeneration would. He had survived a heart attack, 5-way By-Pass, 2 Cardio Conversions, an Ablation and was on his third Pacemaker. But his body got tired of fighting. He was ready to go while his mind was aware he still had choices.

Cliff is survived locally by his wife Kathy (Kathryn), sister-in-law Mary Winter, nieces Emma Winter and Rachel Simpson, sons Phillip Greene, Houston, TX, Harold Greene, Marietta, OK, Troy Bircher, Renton, WA, Kelly Bircher, Sumner, WA, daughters Tracey Rumph, Lolo, MT, Tama Johnson, Tacoma, WA. 9 grandchildren and 16 great grandchildren. Also surviving is brother Donald of Aurora, CO. He is preceded by sister Darla McKinney. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation of food or a coat to Ella Curran Food Bank in Independence, OR (854 N Main St, Independence, OR 97351) or a Veteran's Housing Program. Military Services will be at Tahoma National Cemetery in Maple Valley, WA at a future time.

If you enjoy a bourbon and water or a cup of Earl Grey Tea, a laugh with a loved one or friend or prepare one of his favorite recipes-remember this kind man.

Thank you to all who showed him kindness and respect at Dallas and Salem Hospitals, staff from Serenity Hospice and neighbors caring for and feeding Kathy.