Richard Thomas Kirk

Richard Thomas “Rick” Kirk, 75, of Batavia, Il., formerly of Benton Harbor, MI., passed away on Tuesday, January 11, 2022, at Delnor Community Hospital in Geneva, Il.  Rick was born on September 6, 1946, in Evansville, IN., the son of Wilkin and Jean (nee. Glass) Kirk.  He was united in marriage to Vicki D. Isaacson on September 26, 1970, in Michigan Center, MI. 

Rick’s family moved to Benton Harbor in 1959. His father was an ice-maker salesman for Whirlpool and was into gadgetry and electronics, Rick picked up his skills from his father including getting into ham radio. His parents belonged to the Berrien Hills Country Club, where Rick spent summers golfing, swimming and going to the beach. After graduating from Benton Harbor High School, he enrolled in Lake Michigan College, and then transferred to Central Michigan University. He worked in the computer lab there, which is where he met his wife-to-be. They were engaged at Christmas and married the next fall. After graduation he got his commission in the Army as a lieutenant and took a job with the National Security Agency in Maryland. He was deployed to Korea for 13 months during the Viet Nam era and achieved the rank of Captain Kirk. He had an opportunity to go to Signal Officers Advanced Course in Augusta, Ga. He then was assigned as the Signal Officer in the 2^nd Brigade of the 101^st Airborne Division in Clarksville, Tn. In a short time, the Army instituted a reduction in force or downsizing, and he went into the Army reserves. In the civilian world, he was hired by Harris Corp, a defense contractor in Rochester, NY. He worked in the new International Department as a logistics analyst. The company made communications equipment for police and armies around the world. This necessitated trips to Libya, Nigeria, and Saudi Arabia. The company restructured and eliminated his job, so after almost 20 years, they moved again, this time to Batavia, IL. He worked at a few companies in the Chicago suburbs but was downsized again. His hobbies kept him busy, reading, golfing, once they joined Eagle Brook Golf Club, exercising with a fun group of contemporaries, and watching the Cubs, even going to a couple of games a year. He discovered the computer program Flight Simulator, and at one time ran a virtual airline. Other enthusiasts around the world joined the airlines, and he would send them all routes to fly.

Being a proud veteran, he found the American Legion. He was voted in as the Commander, and was re-elected every year to the present. He participated in the Gifts for Yanks Poppy Drive, as long as physically possible. Rick, Vicki & Teddy(Pekinese) went to Arizona every winter for 6 years to watch the Cubs in Spring Training, and visiting craft breweries with friends. After some medical issues, he received a diagnosis of Leukemia, and started treatments in 2017. He tolerated it well, and he was in remission for 4 years. With a 90% return rate, the leukemia came back, causing his eventual death from complications.

Rick was kind, loving, intelligent, proud, gregarious, and honest. He loved to talk to people and was accepting of all. He loved family, education, and history. He advocated just living your life to the fullest. He started out as a leader early in life, making up games for his brother and friends up to his becoming a Major in the Reserves. He liked the finer things in life, such as good food, good beer and traveling. He will be missed by his many family and friends.

Rick is survived by his loving wife, Vicki Kirk; his sister-in-law, Becky Hall; his two nieces, Mellany Hall and Leah (Alex) Brooks; his grandnephew, Marshall Meeder; his grandnieces, Nevaeh Harris and Reagan Brooks. 

He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother, Kenneth W. Kirk, and his brother-in-law, Gene L. Hall.

A memorial visitation will be held from 1:00 P.M. until 3:00 P.M. on Friday, January 21, 2022, at Moss Family Funeral Home, 209 S. Batavia Ave., Batavia, Il. 60510.  A memorial service will follow at 3:00 P.M. also at the funeral home.  Interment will be held at a latter date at Ft. Custer National Cemetery in Battle Creek, MI.   In lieu of flowers memorial donations in Richard’s name may be made to the Batavia American Legion Post 504, http://bataviapost504.org/.