Obituary: Bird, Cornelius A.
Devoted husband and loving father, went to be with his Lord on July 12, 2012 at the age of 83.
Connie, as he was called by everyone who knew him, started life in Odebolt, Iowa as one of 11 brothers and sisters.
Growing up on the family farm, Connie helped raise honey bees and corn before leaving for the Air Force at 18 years old with his best friend, Charlie Gardner.
He was stationed at Fairchild AFB with the 92nd Periodic Maintenance Squadron where he received the Outstanding Airman award to recognize his exceptional achievements in the squadron.
Connie soon met and married the love of his life, Shirley M. Anderson and shared 59 wonderful years.
Connie was a self-taught architect, designing notable buildings in the Spokane area such as the Valley Mission Eye Clinic and Cavanaugh’s.
In addition, he designed emblems for charitable organizations such as the Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and many others.
He devoted much of his life to the Catholic Church, donating St. Paschal’s Parish rectory and convent designs, as well as many other remodel projects.
He was a dedicated Eucharistic Minister for much of his adult life, and a proud Fourth Degree member of the Knights of Columbus.
Connie loved to take photographs, read, oil paint, wood carve and work with his hands when he wasn’t exploring life with his kids.
He always said his major accomplishment, though, was raising seven lovely (rambunctious) children and he will be dearly missed by all.
Connie is survived by his loving wife, Shirley A. Bird; sisters Mary (Al) Irlbeck and Norma Yankovich; children Don Bird, Michael (Colleen) Bird, Dick (Shannon) Bird, Dianna Nemitz, Anita (Herminio) Perez, Mary (Gordon) Villa, Tom Bird; grandchildren Minga, Kekoa, Kainoa, Nick, Seth, Craig, Bret, Amy, Marisol, Marlow, Nicole; six great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews.
In heaven, Connie will be with his parents, eight siblings, niece Janice Johnson, and grandchildren Malia Bird and Christy Nemitz.
Rosary is Friday, July 20th, 7:00 pm at the SPOKANE CREMATION & FUNERAL SERVICE, 2832 N. RUBY.
Mass of Christian Burial is Saturday, July 21st, 10:30 am at St. Joseph’s Parish, 4521 N. Arden Rd in Otis Orchards, WA, with burial to follow, 1:30 pm, St. Joseph’s Cemetery, E. 17825 Trent Ave.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America or to the Knights of Columbus c/o St. Joseph’s, 4521 N. Arden Rd, Spokane, WA 99207.