Theresa Marie Birch

Funeral services for Theresa “Terri” Marie Birch, 49, Lawrence were held at 2:00 p.m. Friday, November 21, 2014 at Warren-McElwain Mortuary in Lawrence. Burial followed at Oak Hill Cemetery. She passed away Sunday, November 16, 2014 at her home.

Theresa was born September 20, 1965 in Burbank, California, the daughter of James John and Shirley Ann (Cardot) Randtke. She married Brian Keith Birch on October 4, 1986, in Lawrence. He preceded her in death on December 29, 1987. She was also preceded in death by her father on April 10, 1991.

She was a member of Heritage Baptist Church in Lawrence, and was active for many years in church’s missions, prison, and evangelism ministries, and most especially the church’s bus, Sunday school, and children’s church ministries.

She attended the State University of New York at Brockport, Evangel College (Springfield, Missouri), and the University of Kansas. She worked as a clerk at Wal-Mart, as an office assistant at the University of Kansas from 1992-1997, and for a short time at Kohl’s Department Store in Lawrence.

Survivors include her mother, Lawrence; brother, Stephen J. (Jessie L.) Randtke, Lawrence; sister, Anne Marie Bush, Springfield, Missouri; twin sister, Margaret Marie Randtke, Salinas, California; and in-laws Paul K. and Gloria L. Birch, P. Victor Birch, and Judy G. King (Lawrence), and E. Keith Birch (Terrell, Texas).

Memorial contributions may be made in her name to the Heritage Baptist Church or Bert Nash Community Mental Health Center and may be sent in care of the mortuary. Online condolences may be sent to www.warrenmcelwain.com.