Elsie Kirk

Elsie L. Kirk passed away Sunday, March 12, 2006 at the Tuscola County Medical Care Facility, at the age of 89. She was born April 3, 1916 in Fremont, Michigan, the daughter of the late John E. and Alice (Hanner) Palmer. She and her twin sister graduated from Fremont High School with the class of 1934 as Co-Valedictorians, both having earned an all A school record. Elsie graduated from Western State Teachers College in Kalamazoo in 1938 with a bachelors degree in education. During her college career, she enjoyed playing tennis. Elsie met G. Wilson Kirk in Evart, MI where Elsie was teaching elementary school and Wilson was working for the National Farm Loan Association. They were married on July 5, 1941 in Fremont, and had been married for 64 years at the time of her death, living in Caro since 1945. Elsie was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Caro for 61 years. She was active in its Choir, Bible Study Group and Prayer Chain. She was also a past leader in the Tuscola County Girl Scouts of America. Elsie enjoyed golfing, sewing, playing the piano, crossword puzzles, Scrabble, playing Bridge, photography, reading and being with family and friends. She will be remembered as a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, neighbor and friend. Surviving are her husband, G. Wilson Kirk and their three children, Carole Jean (Kirk) Mauller and her husband Donald of Warren, Kenneth Wilson Kirk and his wife Carol (Sanderson) of St. Louis, Missouri, Randy Lee Kirk of Lansing; seven grandchildren, Cynthia (Mauller) Gaioni and her husband John of Troy, Scott Wilson Kirk and Brian John Kirk, both of Dallas, Texas, Julie Lynn (Mauller) Rogers and her husband Brian of Beverly Hills, Gregory Mauller and his wife Marcia of Pontiac, Deborah Lee (Kirk) Lewis and her husband Chad of Roswell, Georgia, Kristine Elizabeth (Mauller) Hall and her husband John of Madison Heights; six great-grandchildren, Jordan Wilson Kirk, Anthony Michael and Rose Marie Gaioni, Katherine Elena and William Graham Rogers, and Reagan Augusta Lewis; her dear sister, Mildred R. Czuchna of Portage and several nieces and nephews. Elsie was preceded in death by a son, Richard Dean Kirk, her twin sister, Effie Palmer and two brothers, Lawrence and Earl Clyde Palmer.