Richard Kirkendall

Richard K. "Dick" Kirkendall, age 84, of Kalamazoo, MI passed away at Kairos Dwelling on Tuesday, July 5, 2016. Dick was born in LaSalle, Illinois on January 31, 1932, the son of the late Keith and Evelyn (Johnston) Kirkendall. He graduated from Vicksburg High School, class of 1949. Dick later went on to serve in the U.S. Army during the Korean War from 1952 to 1954. In 1958, he married Sylvia Ostrowski and they had five children together. Dick loved everything about nature, especially feeding birds and walking trails. He enjoyed playing golf and was a lifetime member of the Knights of Columbus #1616 and VFW Post #6252. In 1989, Dick married Sheila Smith who preceded him in death in 2015. They spent much of their time together traveling, visiting almost every state. They especially enjoyed vacationing at Rocky Mountain National Park and San Diego, California. In addition to his parents and wife, he was preceded in death by sisters, Janice Tyler and Sherry Kirkendall. Dick is survived by his children, Penny Ruth, Richard (Judy) Kirkendall, Joseph (Jeanne) Kirkendall, Julie (Chad) Woodbury and Amy (Duane) Haring; 15 grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; sisters, Willa Stauffer, Lynn (Edward) Whitehead and Susan (Ronald) Commissaris; brothers, Robert (Hazel) and Gerald Kirkendall and many nieces and nephews. A memorial mass of Christian Burial will take place on Monday, July 11, 2016 at 11:00 AM at St. Thomas More Catholic Parish, 421 Monroe St., Kalamazoo, MI 49008. Fr. Dan Hyman, celebrant. Interment with military honors will be at Ft. Custer National Cemetery. A visitation will be held from 5:00 to 7:00 PM on Sunday, July 10, 2016 at Joldersma & Klein Funeral Home where a Rosary will be recited at 6:30 PM. Memorial contributions may be given to Hospice Care of Southwest Michigan or Ministry with Community, c/o of the funeral home.