Obituary WASHINGTON-Norman E. Birkner, 80, of Washington, IL died at 9:01 pm Monday, February 22, 2010 at Riverview Manor Care in East Peoria, IL. Born on April 28, 1929 in Peoria, IL to Edward and Lenora Schwenk Birkner, he married Phyllis Y. Bledsoe on July 8, 1956 in Peoria. She survives. Also surviving are 3 children; Valerie (Ed) Brandon of Morton, IL, Steven (Vicky) Birkner of Washington, IL, and Perry (Lynn) Birkner of Simpsonville, SC; 2 brothers, Willard Birkner of Morton and Ed (Juanita) Birkner of Washington; 1 sister, Isabelle "Sis" Lyons of East Peoria; 7 grandchildren; 3 step-grandchildren, and 5 step-great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents and 1 brother, Raymond. He was an Army veteran serving during the Korean War. Norman worked at Caterpillar Tractor Co. for 35 years as a maintenance welder before retiring in 1982. He was a member of the American Legion in Deer Creek. Norman was a member of St. Patrick Catholic Church in Washington where a funeral mass will be at 11 am Friday, February 26, 2010 with visitation 30 minutes prior to the mass. Additional visitation will be from 5-7 pm on Thursday, February 25, 2010 at Deiters Funeral Home and Crematory in Washington with a prayer service at 6:45. Burial will be at Glendale Cemetery in Washington. Visitation FEB 26. 10:30 AM - 11:00 AM St. Patrick Catholic Church 705 E. Jefferson Street Washington, IL, US Service FEB 26. 11:00 AM St. Patrick Catholic Church 705 E. Jefferson Street Washington, IL, US