Cover photo for Merritt Leo Kirk's Obituary
Merritt Leo Kirk Profile Photo
1929 Merritt 2018

Merritt Leo Kirk

May 13, 1929 — July 22, 2018

Merritt Leo Kirk, 89, of Eau Claire, died Sunday, July 22, 2018, at Lakeside Villa in Dowagiac.

Funeral services will be at 1 p.m. Friday, July 27, at Friends in Faith Community Church, Eau Claire, where friends may visit from 11 a.m. until service time. Burial will be in Caldwell Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the church, or to Caring Circle Hospice. Bowerman Funeral Home is serving the family, and online messages may be left at www.bowermanfuneral.com.

Merritt was born May 13, 1929, to Leo and Fern (Merritt) Kirk. He graduated from Eau Claire High School in 1948 and was a life-long area resident. He worked and ran his family farm, as well as working as a carpenter at Avion Coach, maintenance man at Tosi’s Restaurant, and retiring from Peer Industries in Benton Harbor.

He enjoyed traveling, polka dancing, photography, and was an avid trap shooter, winning many local and state shoots as well as placing first in his division at The Grand American. He was a lifetime member of the NRA and the ATA.

On October 10, 1953, he married the love of his life, Patricia LaVanway, who preceded him in death. He was also preceded by his parents and his sister, Rosalea Francis.

Merritt is survived by a daughter, Lisa (Ben) Borkowski of Eau Claire; grandchildren: Josh, Kody (Laken) and Tara Borkowski; great-grandson, Kolya Borkowski; his sister, Nancy Kirk of Watervliet; sisters-in-law: Nancy (Tom) Davis of Eau Claire, Glenda Schaefer of Toledo, and Peggy LaVanway of Eau Claire; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Merritt Leo Kirk, please visit our flower store.

Service Schedule

Past Services

Visitation

Friday, July 27, 2018

11:00am - 1:00 pm (Eastern time)

Friends In Faith Community Church

6550 Keigley Street, Eau Claire, MI 49111

Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text. Standard text messaging rates apply.

Funeral Service

Friday, July 27, 2018

Starts at 1:00 pm (Eastern time)

Friends In Faith Community Church

6550 Keigley Street, Eau Claire, MI 49111

Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text. Standard text messaging rates apply.

Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text. Standard text messaging rates apply.

Guestbook

Visits: 2

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the
Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors

Send Flowers

Send Flowers

Plant A Tree

Plant A Tree