He was born March 14, 1950 in Jamestown, North Dakota, the son of LeRoy and Evelyn (Wahl) Kendall. He married Linda Rick on June 13, 1970 in Jamestown.
He is survived by his wife of nearly 45 years, Linda; a son Kelly (and Michelle) Kendall of LaCrosse, Wisconsin; a daughter, Kimberly (and Timothy) Burkhalter of Onalaska, Wisconsin; his mother, Evelyn Kendall of Tyler, Texas; four grandchildren, Isaac, Hannah, Lilliana, and Autumn; three brothers, Dwight (and Marg) Kendall and Leslie (and Cindy) Kendall of Jamestown, North Dakota, and Clay Kendall of Tyler, Texas; a sister, Connie Kendall of Longview, Texas; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his father.
He was raised and educated in Jamestown, graduating from Jamestown High School in 1968 and Jamestown College in 1972. Kirk was a pastor for 37 years. This coming August, he would have celebrated 27 years at Bethel Baptist Church.
Kirk was a man of many passions. Second to none was his love of Christ, his best friend and Savior. His prayer as a young boy was "God, make me a Moses" and that God would give him "strength, wisdom and cleanliness". God honored these prayers in his life. He was a man of extreme integrity, an effective communicator, adviser, mentor, and even as a young child he was a strong protector.
Kirk was passionate about people and their growing experience of the God who loves them. He deeply loved his wife, Linda, and their kids and grandkids. Kirk was a giving man who put others before himself. He worshiped God every day as he took care of the people that God would put in his path. So many loved Kirk because they were loved by Jesus through him at times in their lives when they needed God to be there. Each morning he would spend time with Linda, his wife and partner. They would share breakfast, read God's word out loud and would pray, bringing people and their needs to God in addition to celebrating all Christ was doing in their lives.
Kirk loved the outdoors and found peace there. Whether fishing, hunting, woodworking, or exercising he was always doing something. He worked to be excellent in everything he did. Details were paramount almost to an annoyance. He never did anything half way. If one nail was good, Kirk would use seven. He was a beautiful craftsman.
Although his life here on earth is over, the legacy of what God did through him lives on in each person who had the honor of knowing him.
Kirk was also active in the Galesburg community with the Western Illinois AIDS Task Force, YMCA, Faith Bible Camp, and the Galesburg Area Ministerial Association.
Visitation will be 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday, May 14, 2015 at Bethel Baptist Church. Memorial service will be 11 a.m. Friday, May 15, 2015 at the church. Rev. Soctt Wilson and Rev. Lee Johnson will officiate. Memorial contributions may be made to Bethel Baptist Church. Online condolences may be made at www.h-p-w.com.
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