Obituary of James Richard Birdsley

James Richard Birdsley, age 66, of Lake Ozark, Missouri, went to be with the Lord on Wednesday, January 13, 2010, after a battle with cancer. He was born October 16, 1943, in Auburn, Nebraska, the son of John Quincy and Jean (Bennett) Birdsley. He was united in marriage to Diana Stutheit on August 17, 1968; they have two children, Matt Birdsley and his wife Holly of Lake Ozark, Missouri and Kim Baucom and her husband John of Lee's Summit, Missouri. James (Rich) grew up in Auburn, Nebraska, where he graduated high school, later attending Midland Lutheran in Fremont, Nebraska. He was baptized and confirmed at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Auburn. Rich was a coach and teacher for 29 years in Nebraska and Missouri, the last 18 years he taught and coached at School of the Osage, Lake Ozark, Mo. He was an excellent athlete, coach and teacher. As a high school football player, he was chosen to play in the Nebraska Shrine Bowl game and later as a coach was chosen to coach in the Shrine game. In his spare time he enjoyed fishing, boating and sports, especially football. He was a huge Nebraska Cornhusker fan and an even bigger MU Tiger fan after he moved to Missouri. He was a lifetime Cardinals fan and the Dallas Cowboys have always been his team. He dearly loved his family and the outings they shared together, like a trip to Big Cedar. His "Fab 5" (grandgirls) are all keepers. Rich was a member of Christ the King Lutheran Church in Lake Ozark. Rich is survived by his wife Diana of the home; two children, Kim Baucon and husband John of Lee's Summit, Missouri, Matt Birdsley and wife Holly of Lake Ozark, Missouri; one brother, John of Auburn, Nebraska; one sister, Marilyn Buchheit of Linn Creek, Missouri; five grandchildren, Paige, Brielle, Addison, McKenna and Brooklyn; a stepmother-in-law, Sherie Stutheit of Tecumseh, Nebraska as well as many other relatives and numerous friends. Rich was preceded in death by his grandparents, his parents, his wife's parents, two brother in- laws and one sister- in law.