Paul Franklin Kirkegaard

KIRKEGAARD TANDERUP ELLIS

Posted By: Connie Swearingen (email)
Date: 4/12/2010 at 14:30:31

Sioux City Journal
4 January 2003

Paul Franklin Kirkegaard, 68, of Sioux City died of ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig's Disease) at his home on Thursday, Jan. 2, 2003.

A service of celebration of Paul's life will be 11 a.m. Monday at First United Methodist Church in Sioux City. Officiating will be the Rev. Steven H. Pohlman and the Rev. William Skinner, friends of the family. Visitation and fellowship will follow the service at the church. The Rev. Skinner offered prayer preceding the cremation, which was held Jan. 2. Disposition of the ashes will take place at a later time. Arrangements are under the direction of Meyer Brothers Colonial Chapel.

Paul was born in Sioux City on April 21, 1934, to Philip and Dora (Tanderup) Kirkegaard. He was educated in Sioux City Public Schools, graduating with honors from Central High School in 1952. He was a first-string football player at Central and was named First Team All-City center. He earned a bachelor of science degree from Morningside College, where he was a starting center as a freshman on Morningside's football team. He also was a starting center on the college's 1954 Conference Championship football team. He earned his graduate degree in physical therapy from the University of Iowa in 1958.

Paul married Patricia Ann Ellis of Sioux City on Nov. 25, 1955, in Iowa City, Iowa. Their marriage was blessed with two children, a son, Paul Jr., and a daughter, Ann Marie.

Following his graduation, he started the first physical therapy department at Cedar Valley Hospital in Charles City, Iowa. In 1959, he and his family moved to Sioux City, where he joined the physical therapy department at St. Vincent's Hospital. From 1962 to 1963, he was director of physical therapy at Siouxland Easter Seals Rehabilitation Center. In 1963, he joined Lutheran Hospital as director of physical therapy. Following the merger of Lutheran and Methodist hospitals, he became the director of physical therapy at the newly-formed St. Luke's Medical Center. In 1994, he chose early retirement from St. Luke's, then joined Siouxland Orthopedics and Sports Medicine Clinic until full retirement in June 1999.

During his professional years, one of his greatest joys was teaching and mentoring student and newly graduated physical therapists and watching them become a credit to their chosen profession. His abiding theme was, "The patient comes first."

He was a very active member of First United Methodist Church and served as member and chair of most of the church committees, as well as member and chair of the administrative council. He also taught Sunday school to Middle School Youth. He enjoyed coaching kids' baseball during the years his son played.

He was a longtime member and past chair of the Siouxland Committee for the Handicapped and an active member and past president of Interfaith Resources.

He was an avid golfer and particularly relished the rounds with his Sunset Circle foursome. He enjoyed family vacations in northern Minnesota and travel with his wife.

Survivors include his wife, Patricia of Sioux City; a son and his wife, Dr. Paul and SuzAnne Kirkegaard of St. Paul, Minn.; a daughter and her husband, Ann Kirkegaard Landers and Kevin Landers of Sioux City; four grandchildren, Erin Kirkegaard of New York City, Ian Kirkegaard of St. Paul, and Maren and Joren Landers of Sioux City; six brothers, Clayton and his wife, Ruth of Sioux City, Dr. Leo and his wife, Florence of Sioux City, Dr. Dale and his wife, Pat of Fresno, Calif., Milo and his wife, Rita of Hastings, Neb., Robert of Sioux City, and Wayne and his wife, Mary of Lenexa, Kan.; a sister, Faye Cobb of Lenexa; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Dr. Virgil of Sioux City; and a sister, Marian Hintz of Lincoln, Neb., formerly of Sioux City.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that any memorials be directed to the ALS Association, Minnesota Chapter, 528 Hennepin Avenue, Suite 610, Minneapolis, Minn. 55403-1810, designated for research, or to Hospice of Siouxland, 224 4th St., Sioux City, Iowa 51101.