Charles Marston "Chuck" KIRK
KIRK, MARSTON, MADIGAN, PETRILLO, GEORGE, PETERSON, STAUFFER, KEUKEN, BASTIAN, MERSKY, BEEMER, MAHLE, PHILLIPS, ALBAUGH, FRIETAG
Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 5/18/2011 at 06:19:14
Obituary - Charles "Chuck" Marston Kirk
Globe Gazette
Mason City, Cerro Gordo County, Iowa
Wednesday, February 05, 2006TEMPLE, Texas - Charles "Chuck" Marston KIRK, 84, of Temple, Texas, died the evening of Jan. 24, 2006, at Tutor Nursing Home in Temple, Texas.
Chuck KIRK was born on June 28, 1921, to Roger and Dorothy (MARSTON) KIRK at home on the family farm west of Mason City. The attending physician was Dorothy's father, Dr. Charles L. MARSTON.
Chuck was a graduate of Mason City High School and attended Iowa State University before joining the Navy. He served as a lieutenant in the Navy Air Corps during World War II flying PBY amphibians.
Aviation continued to be Chuck's greatest passion throughout his life. After World War II, Chuck was a bush pilot in Alaska. As a commercial pilot he was type-rated in many different aircrafts including the Grumman Goose in which he spent several years flying passengers and cargo in the Caribbean and from Long Beach, Calif., to Catalina Island. Chuck was also an FFA licensed aircraft mechanic and inspector. He performed maintenance, repairs and modifications on many aircraft types including the PBY owned by Jacques Cousteau. Ever since entering the nursing home, Chuck continued to express a desire to fly again.
Recently, through the loving diligence of hospice and the Tutor Nursing Home staff, he was able to fulfill that wish. A local flight instructor took Chuck flying and he flew like a professional, including doing three perfect take-offs and landings which a pilot must complete for recertification of licensing. He was awarded an honorary pilot license renewal. Observing the gathering of people and press were incoming Air Force pilots returning home from Afghanistan. The nine airmen came over to meet the elderly pilot who had flown the skies before them. Learning that he was a retired World War II Navy pilot, they saluted him in grand military style. The pilots exchanged flight stories before the "youngster" airmen had to leave for their debriefing.
Charles M. KIRK was married to Kathleen MADIGAN KIRK before World War II, and to them was born a son, James Patrick KIRK of Mason City. Chuck and Kathleen later divorced. Later Chuck married Ruby GEORGE KIRK and to them two children were born: Lillie Fay PETRILLO of Spokane, Wash., and Russell George (Kathy) KIRK of Livermore, Calif. In later years, he was married to Jane PETERSON KIRK.
Chuck is survived by his children: Jim KIRK, Lillie PETRILLO and Russ KIRK; two granddaughters, Ericka (Gary) PETRILLO STAUFFER, age 26, of Spokane, Wash., and Barbra KIRK, age 16, of Livermore, Calif.; three sisters: Dorothy (Bill) LEUKEN of California, Patricia BASTIAN of Clear Lake, Iowa and Polly MERSKY of Minneapolis, Minn. He is also survived by nephews, Gregory BEEMER, Michael BASTIAN, Kirk MAHLE and nieces, Stephanie BALL, Erin BASTIAN-PHILLIPS, Chrisann ALBAUGH, Tina MAHLE, and Josephine FRIETAG along with many great-nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents and each of his wives.
Chuck will be remembered by his family and friends as having lived a rich and interesting life. He is remembered at Tutor Nursing Home with love as a consummate gentleman who was always good for a fascinating true-life story.
According to his wishes, his body was cremated and there will be a service at a later date in Mason City at the Major-Erickson Funeral Home with interment at the Memorial Park Cemetery. The date and times of those services are pending with Major Erickson Funeral Home & Crematory, (641) 423-0924.
Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, May of 2011
Cerro Gordo Obituaries maintained by Lynn Diemer-Mathews.
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