Obituary for Adolph "John" Birkle
Adolph “John” Birkle – age 92 - Fort Myers, Florida
John was born in Chicago, Illinois to Adolph and Elizabeth Birkle on August 26,1930, and left this world with his loving wife, Agnes Catherine (Katie) Gillich, at his side on April 12, 2023, in Fort Myers, Florida.
Funeral Mass will be held at St. John XXIII Catholic Church, 13060 Palomino Drive, Fort Myers, Florida, Friday May 5, 2023. Visitation begins at 9:30am. Mass officiated by Father Mike Young at 10am. Interment will follow the Mass at the church’s Memorial Gardens.
Everyone is invited to join the family at the Memorial Gardens and then at Parish Life Center (all at the church’s campus) for a celebration of John’s life.
John was first a family man, not always shared in his words, but undoubtedly in his actions and open gifts of love.
John was a thoughtful man and had a thirst for knowledge and understanding of the world. He was always open to discuss and sometimes debate of past or current events.
John attended High School at North Park Academy, then North Park Junior College.
After Junior College, he joined the Airforce trained as a fighter pilot. After serving, John went back to school and earned a bachelor’s at the University of Illinois and master’s from University of Wisconsin in metallurgical engineering.
Completing his education he moved to California to work for Atomic International. There in Long Beach is where he met the love of his life, Katie, and they soon married in Hayward, Wisconsin on September 14, 1957, at Katie’s parents had a resort. While in California they welcomed sons Greg and Kevin.
Next John took a job at US Steel and moved his new family to Monroeville, Pennsylvania where son Eric was born.
He then took a job at Youngstown Sheet and Tube, and two years later he moved the family west to Pueblo, Colorado working at CF&I Steel where daughter Julie was born.
John’s final career move was to Jackson, Michigan working as a Nuclear Engineer until he retired in 1989. During his 36 years of retirement, he enjoyed investing and following the stock market, reading anything and everything, and learning as much as he could about history.
In retirement, John and Katie split there time between Canadian Lakes, Michigan, Naples, Florida, and Fort Myers, Florida.
Most of all he enjoyed being active, among many things: skiing, playing golf, riding his bike, bocci, tennis, traveling the world, and especially playing the piano. He always said that his family and his many friends were a gift in life that he would always cherish.
John is survived by: Katie, his wife of 65 years, his 4 children Greg, Kevin (Lucy), Eric, and Julie. Grandchildren: Christie, Heather, Sean, Kyle, Catherine (Jared), Noah, Luke, Aaron, Alexandra, and Elise. Great grandchildren: Woodland, Rosie, Violet, Lena, and Gala.
John was preceded in death by parents, Adolph and Elizabeth and brothers, Donald, and Harold.
Memorial contributions may be made in John’s memory to:
Cypress Cove Resident Benevolent Care
Office of Philanthropy
10200 Cypress Cove Drive
Fort Myers, Florida 33908
Or the charity of your choice.
Arrangements for Adolph "John" Birkle are under the direction of Legacy Options Fort Myers.
John was born in Chicago, Illinois to Adolph and Elizabeth Birkle on August 26,1930, and left this world with his loving wife, Agnes Catherine (Katie) Gillich, at his side on April 12, 2023, in Fort Myers, Florida.
Funeral Mass will be held at St. John XXIII Catholic Church, 13060 Palomino Drive, Fort Myers, Florida, Friday May 5, 2023. Visitation begins at 9:30am. Mass officiated by Father Mike Young at 10am. Interment will follow the Mass at the church’s Memorial Gardens.
Everyone is invited to join the family at the Memorial Gardens and then at Parish Life Center (all at the church’s campus) for a celebration of John’s life.
John was first a family man, not always shared in his words, but undoubtedly in his actions and open gifts of love.
John was a thoughtful man and had a thirst for knowledge and understanding of the world. He was always open to discuss and sometimes debate of past or current events.
John attended High School at North Park Academy, then North Park Junior College.
After Junior College, he joined the Airforce trained as a fighter pilot. After serving, John went back to school and earned a bachelor’s at the University of Illinois and master’s from University of Wisconsin in metallurgical engineering.
Completing his education he moved to California to work for Atomic International. There in Long Beach is where he met the love of his life, Katie, and they soon married in Hayward, Wisconsin on September 14, 1957, at Katie’s parents had a resort. While in California they welcomed sons Greg and Kevin.
Next John took a job at US Steel and moved his new family to Monroeville, Pennsylvania where son Eric was born.
He then took a job at Youngstown Sheet and Tube, and two years later he moved the family west to Pueblo, Colorado working at CF&I Steel where daughter Julie was born.
John’s final career move was to Jackson, Michigan working as a Nuclear Engineer until he retired in 1989. During his 36 years of retirement, he enjoyed investing and following the stock market, reading anything and everything, and learning as much as he could about history.
In retirement, John and Katie split there time between Canadian Lakes, Michigan, Naples, Florida, and Fort Myers, Florida.
Most of all he enjoyed being active, among many things: skiing, playing golf, riding his bike, bocci, tennis, traveling the world, and especially playing the piano. He always said that his family and his many friends were a gift in life that he would always cherish.
John is survived by: Katie, his wife of 65 years, his 4 children Greg, Kevin (Lucy), Eric, and Julie. Grandchildren: Christie, Heather, Sean, Kyle, Catherine (Jared), Noah, Luke, Aaron, Alexandra, and Elise. Great grandchildren: Woodland, Rosie, Violet, Lena, and Gala.
John was preceded in death by parents, Adolph and Elizabeth and brothers, Donald, and Harold.
Memorial contributions may be made in John’s memory to:
Cypress Cove Resident Benevolent Care
Office of Philanthropy
10200 Cypress Cove Drive
Fort Myers, Florida 33908
Or the charity of your choice.
Arrangements for Adolph "John" Birkle are under the direction of Legacy Options Fort Myers.