Margaret 'Peggy' Birkes, 70, Helped Children to Read
Mrs. Birkes is the only known death from the tornado that swept through Fenton on New Year's Eve.
Margaret "Peggy" (nee Meara) Birkes, of Fenton, a volunteer with the Oasis Intergenerational Tutoring program, died on her 70th birthday Jan. 10 at St. Anthony Medical Center following injuries she sustained during a tornado that swept through Fenton on New Year's Eve.
She is the only known casualty of the storm that caused much property damage in Fenton and Sunset Hills.
The Missouri Highway Patrol said Mrs. Birkes' car had been lifted off the road by the high winds and was slammed into a concrete median.
Mrs. Birkes helped students with reading at Kellison Elementary School in Fenton, a service she provided for three years.
Mrs. Birkes, wife of the late Larry Birkes, is survived by a daughter, Juliana (Eric) Olson; three sons, Marc (Kristin) Birkes, Peter (Stephanie) Birkes and Jonathan (Emily Fiftal) Birkes; seven grandchildren, Evan, Gabriel, Elise and Isaiah Olson, Emma and Sam Birkes, and Grace Birkes; and a brother, Francis Buz Meara. Mrs. Birkes was preceded in death by a sister, Stella McKay, and a brother, James Meara.
Visitation will be from 5 to 9 p.m. Thursday at Kutis Affton Chapel, 10151 Gravois Rd. with a funeral Mass celebrated at 10 a.m. at St. Paul Catholic Church in Fenton with burial at Resurrection Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to OASIS Intergenerational Tutoring, 7710 Carondelet, Suite 125, St. Louis 63105.
Charlene Hensel
11:20 am on Thursday, January 13, 2011
A very good friend of mine, Dione Winter-Heilich was sitting on Hwy 141 waiting to turn into Dierburgs when the tornado came through. She called 911 and reported the accident of Ms. Birkes. She tried several times to call the family at St. Anthony's to check the status of Ms. Birkes, but had no luck on reaching anyone. God Bless Ms. Birkes and her family. Sorry for your loss.