James Kirk
BYRON – James O. Kirk, 85, of Byron, formerly of rural Grand Detour, died Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2009, at his home, surrounded by his family after a long illness. He worked for Dixon Cement Plant for 42 years, retiring in 1989.
James was born June 15, 1924, in Salem, Ky., the son of Bice H. and Odie (Belt) Kirk. He served in the Marine Corps in the Pacific theater during World War II. He saw action in Saipan and Okinawa, and took part in the occupation of Japan. James married Shirley Mae Fordham on May 31, 1947, in Dixon. She preceded him in death on Sept. 5, 2005, after 58 years of marriage.
Survivors include three sons, Kenneth (Rose) Kirk of Mount Morris, James Kirk of Byron, and Randal (Kathy) Kirk of Rochelle; two daughters, Joanne (Craig) Blanchard of Byron and Karen (Tom Baeza) Kirk of Mount Morris; three sisters, Leoda James of Lehigh Acres, Fla., Pauline O’Neal of Raleigh, N.C., and Juanita Hansen of Salem, Ky.; one grandson; three granddaughters; three great-granddaughters; four great-grandsons; and one great-great-granddaughter.
The funeral will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Preston-Schilling Funeral Home, Dixon, with the Rev. Liandro Arellano, pastor of Faith Assembly of Grand Detour, officiating.
Burial, with full military graveside honors accorded by the combined Dixon veterans group, will be at Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens, Dixon.
Visitation will be from 10 to 11 a.m. Tuesday at the funeral home.
A memorials has been established to Ogle County Hospice.
Visit www.prestonschillingfuneralhome.com to send condolences.
