William Kirby

WILLIAM KIRBY

Anamosa

William "Bill" John Kirby, 76, of Anamosa, died Monday, Nov. 10, 2014, at his home. Funeral service: 11 a.m. Friday, Nov. 14, at United Church of Christ in Central City by the Rev. Vicki Engelmann and Deacon Phil Saunders. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday at Murdoch Funeral Home & Cremation Center in Marion.

Survivors include his wife, Esther; six children, Robin Ballantyne (Jerry VonSprecken) of Springville, Shawnna (John) Larison of Springville, Dawn Price (Pete Raine) of Mount Vernon, William (Lisa) Kirby Jr. of Coggon, Peggy Dellheim of Ocala, Fla., and Hali (Brian) Ertel of Gardiner, Mont.; 10 grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

Also surviving are his siblings, Lois (Francis) Boeding, Helen (Gib) Becker, Ann (Gary) Siddel, Lorraine (Al) Remington, Marge Burgess, George (Sharon) Kirby, Betty Felton and Katie (Don) Chapman.

He was preceded in death by his parents and siblings, Frances Mae Lange, Don Kirby, Ed Kirby and John Kirby.

Bill was born May 5, 1938, to Francis and Artazena (Carradaus) Kirby in Winthrop, Iowa. On July 6, 1959, he married Esther Hasler in Monticello. He worked as a farmer, a truck driver and at Wilson Foods before retiring in 1977.

After retiring, he and Esther traveled in their RV, visiting family and friends across the country, listening to bluegrass and country music and eating copious amounts of ice cream along the way. But each Tuesday, he'd meet the boys and Nina Peterson in Hopkinton for quarter-a-hand pinochle, where his shrewd play earned him the name, The Pinochle King.

Bill was a longtime friend of Bill W. and he was dedicated to helping others. But above all else, he enjoyed spending time with his family.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the family.

Please share a memory of Bill at www.murdoch

funeralhome.com under obituaries.