Van Kirkpatrick

Van Lewis Kirkpatrick, 91, passed away peacefully on January 6, 2014. He was preceded in death by his wife of 62 years, Doris Jensen Kirkpatrick, his parents, Orrie and Nellie Kirkpatrick, his brothers, Seth Kirkpatrick and Tom Kirkpatrick, and his sister, Joyce Egre. He was born September 20, 1922 in Reedsburg, Wisconsin. Van studied engineering before joining the Merchant Marines through the Coast Guard in 1944. After WWII, he helped run the family dairy and farm in Big Foot, Illinois. In 1960, Van, Doris and their children moved to Booneville, AR where he raised cattle. He started his own business, Kirkpatrick Scales, in 1969 and managed it until he retired. Van joyfully served his church, First Baptist of Booneville,. as a faithful deacon, Sunday school teacher and choir member. He was a member of Gideons International and Rotary International. He and Doris also took several mission trips to South America. Van was full of life until the end. He loved airplanes and cattle, but above all, Van loved the Lord and his family. Van is survived by his three children: Lois Schmidt, and her husband Dick of O’Fallon, Illinois; Dan, and his wife Becky of Little Rock; and Joel, and his wife Kim of Claremore, Oklahoma. Van is also survived by seven grandchildren: Katie Choate David, Dr. Rachel Smiley Steve, Mary Doddridge Nathaniel, Michael Kirkpatrick Leigh, Leah Kirkpatrick Adam, Rebecca Kirkpatrick, and Lauren Richardson Domonic; and six great-grandchildren: Willem Culpepper, Walden Culpepper, Lottie Moon Doddridge, Buddy Doddridge, Joel Smiley, and Julia Richardson. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to First Baptist Church, Booneville, the Booneville Chapter of Gideons International, and the American Bible Society. The family also wishes to express their gratitude to Tanya Seymore, who loved and cared for Van over the last three years. A memorial service will be held at First Baptist Church, Booneville, AR on Saturday, January 11, 2014 at 11:00 am. The final resting place will be at Luther Valley Lutheran Church Cemetery near Beloit, Wisconsin.

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