Mattie Birch, 83

Mattie Jane Birch, age 83, of Richland and formerly of Chicago and Leonidas, died Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2009 at her home in Richland.  She was born in Leonidas on Aug. 18, 1926 the daughter of Karl and Ethel (Taylor) Birch.  She graduated from Mendon High School, attended the Chicago Evangelistic Institute, and graduated from Vernard University in University Park, IA.  While living in Chicago she worked briefly as a Social Worker.  She then went to work for NABISCO and retired in 1992 after 30 years of service.  She was a member of the Oak Park Church of the Nazarene.  Mattie lived for the Lord and made her faith the center of her life. She loved spending time with her family and friends and enjoyed traveling in her spare time. 

Mattie is survived by 2 brothers,  Clarence Birch (Betty) of Leonidas and Ed Birch (Janice Brown) of Kalamazoo;  14 nieces and nephews, Pat Wadell (Vern), Connie Adams (Ted), Alan Birch, Dennis Birch (Sara), Lisa Stoll (Tyler), Darlene Rodgers (Vern), Debbie Modert (Lou), Diane Stauffer (Doug), Rebecca Peterson (Joel), Brent Birch, Tamara Birch-Olason (Scott), Bryan Birch, Kristen Birch, and Courtney Birch (Erlvin Chua); 1 niece-in-law, Nancy Laugeman.   She was preceded in death by her parents;  3 brothers, Karl, Clifford, and Raymond Birch; and by 2 nephews, Ron Laugeman and William “Butch” Birch. 

The family will receive friends from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday at the Eickhoff Funeral Home in Mendon.  Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Monday at the Leonidas Missionary Baptist Church.    Burial will be in Leonidas Cemetery.  Memorials may be directed to either Gull Arbor Senior Living, or the Oak Park Church of the Nazarene.  Online register is available at www.eickhofffuneralhome.com