Robert Birkey, 90, of Mendota died Aug. 29, 2008, in Mendota Lutheran Home. Funeral service will be 11 a.m. Tuesday in First United Methodist Church, Mendota, with the Rev. Michael Morrell officiating. Burial will be at Restland Cemetery, Mendota, with military rites by VFW Post 4079. Visitation is 2-5 p.m. Monday in Merritt Funeral Home, Mendota. Mr. Birkey was born Sept. 10, 1917, in Princeton to Valentine and Anna (Larson) Birkey. He married Ethylmae Baumgartner on Nov. 15, 1945, in Red Oak Evangelical Church, Walnut. He graduated from Wyanet High School in 1936 and Worsham School of Mortuary Science, Chicago, in 1946. He was in the first draft from Bureau County at the outbreak of World War II where he served for 4½ years as a sergeant in the medical corps of the 28th General Hospital. He was the recipient of a Purple Heart and two Bronze Stars which he received for distinguished service in Leige, Belgium, and the Battle of the Bulge. From 1947-58 he was a partner with Larson, Birkey and Bergin Mortuary in Princeton. He also was employed in retail sales for Larson Furniture House. In 1958, he and his wife opened Birkey's Home Furnishings in Mendota which serviced the area for 16 years. From 1974-84 he was affiliated with Leath Furniture in Peru as assistant manager. Upon retiring from the furniture business he was employed by Merritt Funeral Home in Mendota. In 1998, he was honored as a 50-year member of Illinois Funeral Directors Association. He was a member of First United Methodist Church, Mendota Masonic Lodge, Lions Club, Elks Lodge 1212, Garden Club, Kanteen Executive Board and past-president of Mendota Area Chamber of Commerce. He is survived by his wife; two daughters, Kaye (Paul) Stoops of Newburg, Ind., and Jill (John) Ridder of Naperville; four grandchildren; two stepgrandchildren; and nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by two sisters and four brothers. Memorials may be directed to First United Methodist Church or Mendota Lutheran Home.