KENNETH J. KIRCHER OBITUARY

Kenneth J. Kircher, age 85, of the Illinois Veterans Home, formerly of 1305 Maple, died on Saturday, March 1, 2008 at 7:30 PM in Blessing Hospital. He was born March 13, 1922 in Quincy, Illinois, the son of Leo E. and Caroline (Schutte) Kircher. He married Byrniece Juette on November 25, 1947 in Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Effingham, Illinois. She survives.

Mr. Kircher was a 1940 graduate of Quincy High School and he attended Quincy College.

He served in World War II from 1942-1945 with Co. A 136th Infantry, 33rd Division in the Pacific Theatre. He received the Silver Star, Bronze Star, and other military honors. He attained the rank of Staff Sergeant. He saw combat in Moriti in the Netherlands East Indies and Luzon, in the Philippine Islands

He was City Clerk of Quincy from 1973-1989. He worked at Merkel’s Hardware Store in the sporting good department and at Lockhart Sporting Goods. He was a well known sports official throughout the area both in high school and college. He was also an avid Cardinal Baseball fan and enjoyed all sports.

Mr. Kircher was a lifetime member of the Knights of Columbus #583, American Legion Post #37, Elks Lodge 100, Mart Heinen Club, Ken was the Past-President & past chairman of the Mart Heinen Basketball Tournament. He was a past member and president of North Side Business Men’s Club. He was also a member of the United Commercial Travelers, and he was a past member of Cedar Crest Country Club

In addition to his wife, survivors include:
TWO DAUGHTERS: Kathy Rose and her husband Tom of Quincy, Jeanne Sanders and her husband Richard of St. Louis, MO;
GRANDCHILDREN: Erin Rose, Katie, Meredith, & Ricky Sanders.

He was preceded in death by his parents, a daughter, Karen in infancy, four brothers, Robert, Paul, Wilfred “Bill”, Maurice , and two sisters Ethel Steinbeck & Kathleen “Kay” Hollender.

Funeral services will be held on Thursday, March 6, 2008 at 9:30 a.m. in the Duker & Haugh Funeral Home and at 10:00 a.m. in St. Francis Catholic Church. Interment in Calvary Cemetery with military rites conducted by American Legion Post #37. Visitation will be held at the Duker & Haugh Funeral Home on Wednesday evening from 4:00 to 7:00 PM, with a Parish Prayer Service at 5:30 p.m. with a Knights of Columbus service to follow. Memorials may be made to the Knights of Columbus TV Mass for Shut-Ins, St. Francis Catholic Church or to the Illinois Veterans Home Activity Fund.