Michael Henry Bierbaum

Michael Henry Bierbaum of Longmont, Colorado, died May 19, 2008, at Life Care Center. He was 86.Michael was born September 26, 1921, in Mannheim, Germany to Georg Jakob Wilhelm and Mathilde (Berret) Bierbaum. He grew up in Germany and came to the United States in 1950. Michael married Pearl Christine Hansen in February 1951. The couple had four children and later divorced. Michael married Valeriana Brava Pacaña in the Philippines on November 29, 1989.Mr. Bierbaum lived in the Quad Cities area of Illinois and worked for Ametek for 14 years as a calibration engineer. He moved to the Longmont/Boulder area in 1964 and worked at Ball Brothers Aerospace in Boulder until 1982. While at Ball Brothers, he performed highly skilled machinist work at various levels, retiring as a Senior Technical Specialist. Michael enjoyed being outdoors, fishing, hunting, camping, hiking and four-wheeling, especially in the mountains and the Twin Sisters area. He also enjoyed working in his garden, cooking, reading and working on cars and engines.Mr. Bierbaum was preceded in death by his parents, a brother, Georg Bierbaum and a granddaughter, Erika.Michael is survived by his wife, Lenie; four daughters, Bonnie Chester and her husband, Brian of Centennial, Louise Dankel of Denver, Renee Swindle of Westminster, and Peggy Fay, also of Westminster; a sister-in-law, Rosel Bierbaum of Germany; and a nephew, Randolf, also of Germany; seven grandchildren, Justin, Amy, Brenda, Heidi, Ryan, Lisa, and Britney; and four great-grandchildren.Cremation arrangements have been entrusted to Howe Mortuary and Cremation Services, Longmont. Memorial services will be held at Howe Mortuary on Saturday, May 24, 2008 at 3:00 p.m. with Reverend Len Schreiner officiating.