William D. BIRCH

   Cause of his death was cancer.

  Noted events in his life were:

• Obituary: Star Tribune (Minneapolis, MN), 2013, MN. Birch, William D. 82, of Wayzata, MN, was welcomed home by our Lord on July 2nd, 2013 after a valiant fight with cancer. He was born in Watertown, S.D. on Jan. 25, 1931 at the home of his parents, Robert I. Birch and Ruby Birch nee Blastervold. Bill was the fourth and youngest child of his parents. A Dr. Hammond presided over his home delivery and not having a scale to weigh him, told his mother that he weighed "a good ten pounds." He was born on a Sunday at 6:30 p.m. He often told friends or clients that having missed Sunday dinner on the day that he was born, he has been working to make up for it ever since. Bill was a proud graduate of Roosevelt High School, the University of Minnesota Business School and the University of Minnesota Law School. He served in the Army Counter Intelligence corps and was stationed at Fort Holabird, Maryland. Bill's great passions in life were his Norwegian heritage (100 percent Norwegian); sports (golf - Minnetonka Country Club and Hazeltine National Golf Club), basketball (semi-pro in Baltimore), bowling, and tennis; music (Apollo Male Chorus, St. John's, Central, and Mount Olivet Choirs), reading; movies (especially foreign films at the Uptown); the Lutheran church (St. John's Lutheran, Central Lutheran, and Mount Olivet Lutheran); the turkey dinner at House of Wong and pies of all types from the 50's Grill Restaurant. Bill practiced law in Minneapolis for more than 50 years. He thoroughly enjoyed counseling his client, including many non-profits and charities, throughout his career. His larger than life presence, keen intellect, wit, insightful advice, joyful laughter, and ability to add to the conversation no matter what the topic will be greatly missed. His three older siblings were Robert E. Birch (Louena), Byron E. Birch (Mae), and Shirley A. Lindblom (Maurice). His parents and all three of his siblings pre-deceased him. He is survived by his loving wife of nearly 50 years, Carole J. Birch; son, William D. Birch, Jr. (Dawn), and daughters, Jennifer J. Belz (Scott), and Kathryn E. Gimse (Christopher) as well as grandsons, Christian and Erik Belz and granddaughters, Hanna, Hope, and Sage Carole Gimse. In addition to his immediate family, Bill is also survived by sister-in-law, Mae Birch (Byron), brother-in-law, Dr. Maurice Lindblom (Shirley), and many loving nieces and nephews. A service of remembrance will be held on Tuesday, July 9th, at 11:30 am. Visitation with the family will precede the service at 10:30 am and a lunch will follow at 12:30 pm. A service of Christian burial will take place at 2 pm at Fort Snelling National Cemetery following the service at Mount Olivet Lutheran Church (West campus), 7150 Rolling Acres Road, Victoria, MN 55331

Published in Star Tribune on July 7, 2013