Andrew Clyde Birkinshaw

Andrew Clyde Birkinshaw (30) passed away at home in Riverton, Utah on Sunday March 13, 2016 of natural causes. Andy was born 27 November 1985 in Murray, Utah to Robert and Lonnie (Larsen) Birkinshaw. Four of his other siblings also passed away from the same rare genetic disease, Wolfram Syndrome.

At the tender age of 8, he and his twin brother Daniel learned that they had the complications of an anomaly of the 4th chromosome. Andrew possesses a mountain of courage and hope. He is completely confident that he would be able to accomplish all he was sent here to do. He prepared in many ways. He earned his Eagle Scout award, graduated from Murray High School and attended Salt Lake Community College until the complications of his illness prohibited additional studies. None the less, he continued to study the scriptures and graduated from LDS Institute. Last year he read the Book of Mormon 10 times. He is a scriptural scholar.

Andy is a naturally gifted musician. It would take him only minutes to figure an instrument out and play it by ear, as though he had played it all his life. He studied music in college. Andrew was also a service missionary at the Humanitarian Center, and the Salt Lake Temple. Andrew spoke with the wisdom of the angels. He is an inspiration to everyone who met him. He had no complaints about the challenges that life had dealt him. He was strong and courageous in everything he did and said. A hundredth part of this wonderful man cannot be written.

Andy is survived by his parents, three sisters, Jennie (Jason) Towery, Park City; Rebecca (Robert) Allen, Virginia; Julia (Ken) Childs, St. George. He also has 9 nieces and nephews, and 95 aunts, uncles and cousins. He was preceded in death by his twin brother Daniel, his sibling twin brothers Bradley and Robert and his sister Sarah; both sets of grandparents, Vance and Glenna Birkinshaw and Clyde and Louise Larsen.

A Viewing will be held at the Jenkins-Soffe South Valley Funeral Home, 1007 W. South Jordan Parkway (10400 S), South Jordan, Utah on Thursday, March 17, 2016 from 6:00 to 8:00 PM. The funeral will be held in the Riverton Central Stake Center, 12852 S 3200 W, Riverton, Utah, (access via 2700 West) on Friday, March 18, 2016 at 11:00 AM. A viewing will precede the service starting at 10:00 AM. Interment will be at the Elysian Burial Gardens, 1075 East 4580 South, Murray Utah.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to the JT Snow Foundation for the cure of Wolfram Syndrome. https://www.crowdrise.com/snowfoundation

Funeral Home:
Jenkins-Soffe South Valley
1007 W. South Jordan Parkway
South Jordan, UT