James R. Kirk, 1932-2005

KIRK

Posted By: Emmet County IAGenWeb Coordinator (email)
Date: 2/13/2009 at 07:15:48

James R. Kirk, Jr., the son of James R. Sr., and Sophia (Heiman) Kirk was born November 26, 1932, in Olaf, Iowa and departed this life on Friday, September 23, 2005, at the Good Samaritan Care Center in Estherville, Iowa at the age of 72 years old.

Jim moved to a farm North of Estherville with his family when he was two years old and lived most of his life there. He received his education in the Emmet Consolidated School and graduated from Estherville High School in 1950. Jim was awarded the State of Iowa Farmer as a senior in high school. Jim served in the U.S. Air Force from 1953 - 1957.

On June 2, 1957, he was united in marriage to Lavonne Smith in Estherville. Jim farmed until his health forced him to retire in 1993. Following a fall he entered Good Samaritan from October 2003 until returning home in April of 2004 and then returned to Good Samaritan in January of 2005. Jim’s motivation to return home was his grandson, Evan.

He was a life-long member of the Immanuel Lutheran Church where he was baptized, confirmed and married. Jim was also a life-time member of the Veterans of Foreign War. Jim loved nature and was an out of doors person. For hobbies, he enjoyed fishing, hunting and trapping.

Left to cherish Jim's memory is his wife, Lavonne of Estherville; two daughters, Marilyn Jean Kirk of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Beth Olthoff and her husband, Tom of Kansas City, Missouri; one grandson, Evan; sister, Rosabelle Hermann of Eagan, Minnesota; sister and brother-in-law, Carol and Rolland Shipley of Estherville; also by cousins, nieces, and nephews. He has been preceded in death by his parents and brother-in-law, Pastor David Hermann.