Dawn Louise Birch, 69, died peacefully Monday, March 25, at the Enterprise Estates Nursing Center in Enterprise, Kansas, following a lengthy bout with Alzheimer’s.
Dawn was born in Oakland, California on February 17, 1950, the third daughter of Ted and Mary Huelsmeyer. After attending Chabot College, she worked in banking for 15 years in San Francisco and Fremont and was delighted to encounter clients such as the great San Francisco Giant baseball player, Willie Mays, and the famous author of Roots, Alex Haley.
Dawn’s love for the Lord led her to pursue Biblical studies in Kansas and volunteer Christian service in Virginia. Her other interests included 2 trips to Europe, nature, playing racquetball and jogging. She was talented in design, whether it be in fashion, gardening or decorating. Later in life she worked for Home Depot, 10 years in California and then 5 years in Washington. Her favorite department was kitchen design.
Dawn’s final move was to Kansas to be near a sister and to live in the beautiful Brown Memorial Home in Abilene for about 7 years. She enjoyed her new friends, including dear Lois. Together they enjoyed the landscape, activities, fellowship, domino games, meals, and much more. Dawn also loved being an active part of the Community Bible Church in Abilene. In her last months, Enterprise Estates Nursing Center welcomed her and provided the loving medical care she required.
Dawn was a beautiful person who inspired many with her light hearted, cheerful, kind and loving nature. She is loved and missed by her sisters, Terri and her husband Pierre Carpentier, Lynne and her husband Jeff Kennedy and Patricia Schlegel; her nephews and nieces, Spencer and his wife Irena Bailey, Ted Schlegel, Sarah Martinez, Rachel Roberts, Mary and her husband Stephen Jepson and Elizabeth Roberts; 3 great nephews, 3 great nieces and all of her extended family and many friends.
A celebration of life service will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday, April 10, at the Brown Memorial Home with Pastor Lindsey Brummer officiating. Donations in Dawn’s honor may be made to the Community Bible Church, Enterprise Estates Nursing Center or the Home Health & Hospice of Dickinson County and may be sent in care of the Martin-Becker-Carlson Funeral Home, 414 NW 3rd Street, Abilene, Kansas 67410. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.martinbeckercarlson.com.