Richard F. Bierwirth, 83, of Mendota died July 23, 2011, in Heritage Manor Nursing Home, Mendota. Services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday in Merritt Funeral Home, Mendota, with the Rev. Dale Dykstra officiating. Burial will be at Restland Cemetery, Mendota, with military rites by Mendota VFW Post 4079. Visitation will be 4-7 p.m. Tuesday in the funeral home. Mr. Bierwirth was born June 24, 1928, in Mendota to Frank and Clara (Schupp) Bierwirth. He married Frances (Farmer) Brown on June 24, 1978, in Advent Christian Church, Mendota. He served with the U.S. Navy during World War II. He retired from Mendota Farmers Co-op after 31½ years. He was a member of First Presbyterian Church, Mendota, and had been a longtime member of First Baptist Church, Mendota. He was a member of Masonic Lodge and past member of Mendota Moose Lodge and Elks Lodge 1212. He is survived by his wife of Mendota; one daughter, Brenda Sue Smith of La Salle; one son, Paul (Cathy) Bierwirth of Mendota; one stepson, Harold Ray Brown of California; two stepdaughters, Brenda Lee Brown of Mendota and Mary Lois Bodycote of Tarpon Spring, Fla.; five grandchildren; and several great-grandchildren, stepgrandchildren and stepgreat- grandchildren; and two sisters, June Willard of Mendota and Barbara Hendrix of Ottawa. He was preceded in death by one daughter, one granddaughter and a sister. Memorials may be directed to the family.