Wilbur "Skip" Bird's Obituary
Wilbur "Skip" Bird, age 80, of Pinckneyville, IL, went to be with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on Friday, September 9, 2022 at 9:05 a.m., with his wife by his side, in Pinckneyville Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, Pinckneyville, IL.
Skip was born on March 29, 1942 in Pinckneyville, IL, a son to Herschel C. and Gladys (Heine) Bird. On September 17, 1960, he married Karen K. Gaston in Perryville, MO and she survives. He had worked as a coal miner at Peabody Coal Mine and as a farmer. Skip was a member of Roe's Dale Baptist Church, Pinckneyville, IL and enjoyed restoring antique tractors and going to the American Thresherman events and auctions. He loved his wife, family and his pets.
Survivors include his wife of 62 years, Karen Bird of Coulterville, IL; three daughters, Robin (Mike) Engelage of Coulterville, IL, Rhonda (John) Hines of Murphysboro, IL, and Regina (Kevin) Spurlock of DuQuoin, IL, and; three brothers, Pete (Madelyn) Bird of Manhattan, IL, Orange Bird of Pinckneyville, IL, and Rich (Jane) Bird of DuQuoin, IL; two sisters, Marie Hutchings of Pinckneyville, IL and Arthie (Frank) Buschschulte of Tamaroa, IL; eleven grandchildren, Jason (Christina) Kuhnert, Joshua (Katja) Kuhnert, Justin (Jaycci) Kuhnert, Travis Mann, Cassandra (Brandon) Oakley, Britnee (Brandon) Foutch-Wynn, Rosie Hines, Johnna Hines, Maggie Spurlock, Mandi Spurlock, and Macie Spurlock; seventeen great-grandchildren; and his cat, Fannie Mae.
He was preceded in death by his parents; a granddaughter, Halylie Marie Hines; four brothers, Dean Bird, Norman Bird, John Bird, and Arthur Bird; and a sister, Karen Sue Bird.
Funeral services will be held at Roe's Dale Baptist Church, Pinckneyville, IL on Monday, September 12, 2022 at 11:30 a.m. with Pastor Bob Davis officiating. Interment will be in Mueller Hill Cemetery, Pinckneyville, IL.
Visitation will be at Roe's Dale Baptist Church, Pinckneyville, IL on Monday from 10:30 a.m. until 11:30 a.m.
Memorial donations may be made to the Neurofibromatosis Department at Cardinal Glennon Children's Foundation, 3800 Park Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63110.
The family would like to extend a special thank you to the caregivers at Pinckneyville Nursing and Rehabilitation.
Pyatt Funeral Home, Pinckneyville, IL has been entrusted with arrangements.
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