David Mark Birchmier

March 3, 1953 – June 6th, 2025

David Mark Birchmier, 72, of Portland, Oregon died on Friday, June 6th, 2025, at his Elder Place Home.

He was a loving brother, a devoted friend and mentor to many special needs adults in the Portland area and a friend to many. A special thank you to Elder Care for their kind and loving attention to David and especially Geleta, Sara and Brie and his team.

David was born on March 3rd, 1953, in Greenfield, Indiana the son of Charles and Charlene Birchmier of Marion, Iowa.  He graduated from Ft. Dodge Iowa High School. He was active in musical theatre and played several leads.  He sang in choirs both at school and church and was in jazz, marching and concert bands.  He played piano by ear and saxophone.  His beautiful tenor voice earned him a place at the All State Chorus in Iowa. He was also a wonderful artist.

David received a Bachelor of Arts in Education from the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls. He received a master’s degree in special education from Portland State University.  He worked with special needs adults in the Metro Area. They truly loved him because he was warm and kind to all of them.

Those preceding him in death were his father, Charles LaVerne Birchmier and his mother, Charlene Gates Birchmier, a special uncle, Lorval Birchmier of Gresham, Oregon and many aunts, uncles and several cousins all across the country.

He leaves behind two sisters, Vonda Birchmier and Evone (Dave) Vognsen from Cedar Rapids, Iowa.  Also, a nephew, Joshua (Dani) Vognsen of Mount Prospect, Illinois and a niece, Maria (Brant) Walsh of Shakopee, Minnesota and a great niece and a great nephew.

The family is indebted and grateful to Andy Turner of Portland for his friendship and caregiving for many years.  We greatly appreciate everything he did for David.

David had a strong, unwavering faith.  He loved sharing his journey of faith with others.  May he now rest in peace.  You will be missed by many David! We know you will be dancing up a storm in heaven with new knees! We love you and will meet again someday.

No services will be held.  Memorial gifts may be given to the American Diabetes Association (ADA) in honor of his Father or to the Alzheimer’s Association in honor of his mother.