Obituary for Robert Wayne "Bob" Van Kirk
Robert W. “Bob” Van Kirk, age 79 of Shawano, died on Tuesday, April 6, 2021, the result of declining health. He was born on August 12, 1941 in Milton Township, Dodge County, Minnesota, to Joseph Isaac and Alice Laura (Swanson) Van Kirk. Bob graduated from Pine Island High School in Minnesota with the class of 1960. He then went to work for Nelson Tire in Rochester, Minnesota, a job that led to a lifetime career.
In 1968, Bob moved to Stevens Point where he met the love of his life, Mary Cecilia Van Straten. They celebrated 50 years of marriage in June of 2020. Bob and Mary moved to Milwaukee in 1970 where, once again, Bob found himself in the tire business. In 1976, Bob started his own truck tire service company. From then on, Bob was often called “V.K. Tire”, the name of his company. An accident forced Bob to close his company and go on disability at age 55. After living in Milwaukee for 36 years, Bob and Mary packed up and moved to Shawano where they have resided for the last 15 years.
Bob was a tall, broad man, with incredible strength. Even in his later years, he still turned heads when he walked into a room. Health problems besieged Bob, and as hard as he fought them, as much as he wanted to remain with his family, a fatal heart attack finally took his life. Bob loved his wife, his four children and their spouses, his seven grandchildren, and his precious great-grandson. He loved Mary’s family too, and he loved to visit with strangers; a friend he was to everyone.
Bob is survived by his wife, Mary, of Shawano; his three daughters, Joanne (Troy) Edwards of Shawano, Julie (Michael) Trudeau of Hewitt, WI, and Jessie (Thomas) Hanssen of Shawano; his son, James Robert (Elessa) Van Kirk of Pulaski; his grandchildren, Matthew Edwards, Nicole (fiancé Jared Radtke) Edwards, Nathan Edwards, Amanda Trudeau, Carrie Trudeau, Ashley Hanssen, and Andrew Robert Hanssen; his great-grandson, Dean David Radtke; his brother, Joseph C. (Barbara) Van Kirk; and his sister-in-law, Mary P. Van Kirk. Robert was preceded in death by his parents; his brother, James C. Van Kirk; and his in-laws, Aloysius and Cecilia Van Straten.
A Mass of Christian Burial will take place at 11:00 AM on Saturday, April 10, 2021 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Shawano. Fr. Scott Valentyn will be the Celebrant. Visitation will begin at the church at 10:00 AM and continue until the hour of Mass. Committal will take place at the St. Denis Catholic Cemetery in Shiocton, with Deacon James Lonick presiding. Mary requests there be no flowers.
“The family would like to extend special thanks to all the doctors and nurses at ThedaCare Medical Center-Shawano, Appleton, and Neenah, and Shawano Health Services for their loving care of Robert.”
In 1968, Bob moved to Stevens Point where he met the love of his life, Mary Cecilia Van Straten. They celebrated 50 years of marriage in June of 2020. Bob and Mary moved to Milwaukee in 1970 where, once again, Bob found himself in the tire business. In 1976, Bob started his own truck tire service company. From then on, Bob was often called “V.K. Tire”, the name of his company. An accident forced Bob to close his company and go on disability at age 55. After living in Milwaukee for 36 years, Bob and Mary packed up and moved to Shawano where they have resided for the last 15 years.
Bob was a tall, broad man, with incredible strength. Even in his later years, he still turned heads when he walked into a room. Health problems besieged Bob, and as hard as he fought them, as much as he wanted to remain with his family, a fatal heart attack finally took his life. Bob loved his wife, his four children and their spouses, his seven grandchildren, and his precious great-grandson. He loved Mary’s family too, and he loved to visit with strangers; a friend he was to everyone.
Bob is survived by his wife, Mary, of Shawano; his three daughters, Joanne (Troy) Edwards of Shawano, Julie (Michael) Trudeau of Hewitt, WI, and Jessie (Thomas) Hanssen of Shawano; his son, James Robert (Elessa) Van Kirk of Pulaski; his grandchildren, Matthew Edwards, Nicole (fiancé Jared Radtke) Edwards, Nathan Edwards, Amanda Trudeau, Carrie Trudeau, Ashley Hanssen, and Andrew Robert Hanssen; his great-grandson, Dean David Radtke; his brother, Joseph C. (Barbara) Van Kirk; and his sister-in-law, Mary P. Van Kirk. Robert was preceded in death by his parents; his brother, James C. Van Kirk; and his in-laws, Aloysius and Cecilia Van Straten.
A Mass of Christian Burial will take place at 11:00 AM on Saturday, April 10, 2021 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Shawano. Fr. Scott Valentyn will be the Celebrant. Visitation will begin at the church at 10:00 AM and continue until the hour of Mass. Committal will take place at the St. Denis Catholic Cemetery in Shiocton, with Deacon James Lonick presiding. Mary requests there be no flowers.
“The family would like to extend special thanks to all the doctors and nurses at ThedaCare Medical Center-Shawano, Appleton, and Neenah, and Shawano Health Services for their loving care of Robert.”