Robert Duane Kirk, 79, of Litchfield, formerly of Hillsboro, died on Thursday, July 26, 2018, at Northwestern Medical Center in Chicago.
Visitation will be held Tuesday, July 31, from 4 to 7 p.m. at Hough & Sons Funeral Home in Hillsboro with Masonic rites beginning at 4 p.m. Funeral services will be held Wednesday, Aug. 1, beginning at 10 a.m. at the funeral home with the Rev. Randy Sands officiating.
Burial and military rites will follow at Elmwood Cemetery in Litchfield.
Mr. Kirk was born May 18, 1939, in Atwater, to John Harold and Alice Belle (Norvell) Kirk. He married Kim Lee on Aug. 1, 1962, and she preceded him in death in 2016.
He attended first grade at Union School in rural Atwater, and when his family moved to rural Farmersville in September 1947, he attended Lake School just southwest of Farmersville.
Mr. Kirk would study at Lake School for two years until it closed through consolidation into the Panhandle School District. His family lived on the John Kirk Farm across from Macoupin Creek Cemetery and took care of his grandfather, John, until his death in late 1949.
During his youth, he worked for LeVerne Gerhard for five years, a dairy farmer just south of where his family lived. He enlisted in the U.S. Air Force, serving for eight years, and was stationed at Perrin Air Force Base in Texas, Osan Air Force Base in South Korea, where he served two tours, and Edwards Air Force Base in California.
Mr. Kirk met and married his wife while stationed in South Korea. He was honorably discharged on Dec. 29, 1965.
He went on to accept a position with the Montgomery County Health Department on Jan. 1, 1966. He worked his way up to the position of Director of Environmental Health, a title he would hold until his retirement on Dec. 31, 2001.
Mr. Kirk also managed the Orpheum Theater from June 1982 to June 1990 for Nor-Del Enterprises.
He received his degree in biology from Lincoln Land Community College in 1974, continuing his education at Sangamon State University, Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville and Southern Illinois University-Carbondale with some credits from the University of Maryland.
Mr. Kirk was inducted into the Hillsboro Old Settlers Honor Society in 2007. He was a life member of the VFW Post 3912, member of the American Legion Post 153, and Past Master of Mt. Moriah Lodge #51 AF&AM, the Scottish Rite, Valley of Springfield, the York Rite Bodies and the Swords of Bunker Hill.
He is survived by one daughter, Denice Lea (Tim) Spencer of Chicago; five grandchildren, Brittany, Meaghan, Heather and Hannah Rhodes and Abby Kirk; three great-grandchildren, Lily, Elana and Levi; two brothers, Roy N. (Ronda) Kirk, Clyde E. (Sophie) Kirk; and several nieces and nephews.
In addition to his wife, Mr. Kirk was preceded in death by his parents; one son, John Stephan "Steve" Kirk in 2008; two sisters, Carolyn Martin and Anita Allen; and a nephew, Lonnie Kirk.
Memorials may be directed to the donor's choice.
Online condolences to the family may be left at www.houghfuneralhome.com.
