John Van Kirk (Lebanon)'s Obituary
John Randall Van Kirk, first born son of Cornelius Earl and Ada Fern Priestly Van Kirk, was born April 4, 1938, in Louisburg, Kansas. He departed this life Sunday, November 9, 2014, in Christian Health and Rehabilitation Center North, in Lebanon, Missouri, at the age of seventy-six years, seven months, and five days.
His parents preceded him in death.
John is survived by his son, Matthew Franklin Van Kirk, and his wife, Karen Lynn, of Pasadena, Maryland; a grandson, Andrew Ira Van Kirk, of Pasadena, Maryland; a brother, James Warren Van Kirk, and his wife, Susan, of Louisburg, Kansas; several nieces and nephews; two cousins, Audrey Arno, of Tuttle, Oklahoma, and Florence Ricks, of Kaysville, Utah; as well as a host of other relatives and friends.
He was raised on the family farm north of Louisburg, Kansas, and attended Snake Den Elementary School. He then graduated from Louisburg Rural High School in the Class of 1956. During his elementary and high school years, he became a noted pianist and played the organ for church and many weddings and funerals. He won the Kansas State piano competition several times during his high school years, and had a lifelong gift and love of the piano and music in general.
He received a Bachelor’s in Science Degree in Music Education from the University of Kansas in 1961. He and Janice Ann Trendel (currently Janice Ann Bradbury of Golden, Colorado) were married on August 7, 1960. In 1961, he entered divinity school at Perkin School of Theology at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas for one year and completed his Master’s Degree at Chicago Theological Seminary where he graduated with honor (Summa Cum Laude) and was ordained in the Methodist Church in 1964.
After a short career as a Methodist minister, John worked as an insurance salesman and broker for a number of years in Northern Illinois and the Kansas City area. In his later years, he did residential contracting, promoting energy saving home improvements.
John was a loving father, grandfather, brother, uncle, cousin, and was a caring neighbor and friend. He maintained his love for music and especially piano music throughout his life and will be fondly remembered and greatly missed by all those who knew and loved him.
Memorial donations may be made to the First United Methodist Church, and left at the funeral home.
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