Kurt Alan LIEBERKNECHT

LIEBERKNECHT, DORENKAMP, BUBECK, WHITE, MENNENGA, LAWIN, HALL, JENISON, HAACK, BALDWIN, BURT, LAMB, BUERCKLEY, SCHMIT, JAMES

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 11/11/2008 at 10:23:44

Kirk Lieberknecht, 56, Belmond, died Sunday, November 9 at Mercy Medical Center in Mason City. Services will be held at 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, November 12 at the Belmond United Methodist Church with Stan Watne and Rev. Michael Druhl officiating. Burial will be in the Belmond Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 5-8 p.m. Tuesday at Andrews Funeral Home and one hour prior to the service at church Wednesday.

Belmond Independent
November 10, 2008

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BELMOND - Kirk A. Lieberknecht, 56, of Belmond, died Sunday (Nov. 9, 2008) at the Mercy Medical Center-North Iowa, Mason City, surrounded by his loving family. Funeral services will be held at 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2008, at the Belmond United Methodist Church, 1031 First St. S.E. Belmond, with Stan Watne and the Rev. Michael Druhl, officiating. Burial will be in the Belmond Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. today at the Andrews Funeral Home, 516 First St. S.E., and continue on Wednesday one hour prior to the service. Memorial suggestions include the Calvary Baptist Church of Belmond, the B-K School Building Fund, the Belmond Medical Center, or to the donor's wishes.

Kirk Alan Lieberknecht, the son, of Wilbur John and Leona Berniece (Dorenkamp) Lieberknecht, was born on Nov. 16, 1951, in Belmond. Kirk was one of six children to bless this union, including: Janean, Janet, David, Jolene, and Joan. Kirk spent his early life growing up on a farm near Meservey, until the family moved to Belmond in 1960. He attended Belmond High School and graduated with the Class of 1970. Following high school, Kirk attended LeTourneau Technical College in Longview, Texas, for one year.

On Aug. 4, 1973, Kirk suffered injuries from an automobile accident that would affect his physical abilities for the remainder of his life in the fact that he would need the assistance of a wheelchair. Surrounded by the endless love, care, and devotion of Wilbur and Leona and his family, Kirk was able to live a productive and meaningful existence.

Though this tragedy brought physical impairments to his life journey, it seemed to only strengthen in faith life and devotion to his church, family, and many friends. Kirk took ahold of the life-changing event that occurred and became an inspiration to others. Kirk often shared that he was where God wanted him to be. Kirk had committed his life to the Lord as a young man and used his own God given gifts of encouragement, patience, tolerance, positive attitude, and open ear to counsel and mentor many who crossed his life path. All who had this privilege of knowing Kirk as a family member, friend, or acquaintance will always reflect fondly as they picture Kirk's ever smiling face, the twinkle in his eye and his zest for life despite the fact of his disability. His family will miss his uplifting attitude, times spent with "Uncle Kirk" riding around on his wheelchair, and his loving, patient and caring ways. Others will miss his encouragement, inspirational personality, his bountiful wealth of knowledge which he often gave so unselfishly. The greater community will always be looking for Kirk in his well known travels about town, tooling around in his chair going about his daily routines in his favorite jacket and famous furry hats. All will miss his warm, friendly smile, his nod hello, and the chance to stop by for an uplifting visit with him. Some might even wish they had the chance to be on the receiving end of one of Kirk's friendly pranks or in years gone by having a friendly chat with Kirk, "The Rubber Band" man, as he was known on the CB Channels along the many roadways of life. Kirk was a talented vocalist in the earlier years of his life, sharing his well rounded Tenor voice as a part of "The Crusaders" quartet. He had traveled to Mexico and enjoyed spectating at ballgames and other events. Kirk was a longtime member of the Calvary Baptist Church in Belmond. For over 20 years Kirk was cared for and nurtured in his life by Jonell White, for whom Kirk and his family have a great appreciation and gratitude. Kirk was a lifelong entrepeneur and businessman, initially owning and operating "Kirk Lieberknecht's CB Sales and Service" for a number of years, then operating a satellite TV dish business, and more recently owning a computer repair shop and Kalnet Internet Services, Inc.

Those left to celebrate his life include his mother, Leona Lieberknecht, of Belmond; his special friend and caregiver, Jonell White, of Mason City; his siblings, Janean (Larry) Bubeck, of Redlands, Calif., David (Diane) Lieberknecht, of Belmond, Jolene (Duane) Mennenga, of Meservey, and Joan (Gene) Lawin, of Waterloo; his nieces and nephews, Brad (Erika) Bubeck, Kimberly (Gordon) Hall, Debbie (Mark) Jenison, Daniel Lieberknecht, Jennifer (Kurk) Haack, Jason Baldwin, Josh Baldwin, Katelyn Baldwin, Erin Burt, Kylee (Eric) Lamb; his great-nieces and nephews, Cassandra, Maxwell, Zachary, Lucas, Michael, Danielle, Nicholas, Benjamin, Andrew, Makayla, Owen, and Adasyn; Kirk is also survived by his loving caregiver of 20 years, Jonell White, of Mason City; and extended family, Douglas (Brenda) White Jr., and their children: Eric, Johanna, Tristan, Trevor, Joey, and Kiara; Donell (David) Buerckley (White), and their children, Taylor, Mackenzie, Layne, and Bailey; Jo Ann White and her children, Keegan, Jada, and Jesenia; Joan White and her children, Kyler and Jonathan; Jackie (White) and husband, Ray Schmit, and their children, Alex, and Locklan; Charity White, and her children, Ben, Blake, and Bethan; and good friend, Everett James. Kirk was preceded in death by his maternal and paternal grandparents; his father, Wilbur Lieberknecht; a sister, Janet Faye Lieberknecht; and a nephew, Scott Charles Bubeck. Andrews Funeral Home.

Mason City Globe Gazette
11/11/2008