Merritt Leo Kirk

Merritt Leo Kirk, 89, of Eau Claire, died Sunday, July 22, 2018, at Lakeside Villa in Dowagiac.

Funeral services will be at 1 p.m. Friday, July 27, at Friends in Faith Community Church, Eau Claire, where friends may visit from 11 a.m. until service time. Burial will be in Caldwell Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the church, or to Caring Circle Hospice. Bowerman Funeral Home is serving the family, and online messages may be left at www.bowermanfuneral.com.

Merritt was born May 13, 1929, to Leo and Fern (Merritt) Kirk. He graduated from Eau Claire High School in 1948 and was a life-long area resident. He worked and ran his family farm, as well as working as a carpenter at Avion Coach, maintenance man at Tosi’s Restaurant, and retiring from Peer Industries in Benton Harbor.

He enjoyed traveling, polka dancing, photography, and was an avid trap shooter, winning many local and state shoots as well as placing first in his division at The Grand American. He was a lifetime member of the NRA and the ATA.

On October 10, 1953, he married the love of his life, Patricia LaVanway, who preceded him in death. He was also preceded by his parents and his sister, Rosalea Francis.

Merritt is survived by a daughter, Lisa (Ben) Borkowski of Eau Claire; grandchildren: Josh, Kody (Laken) and Tara Borkowski; great-grandson, Kolya Borkowski; his sister, Nancy Kirk of Watervliet; sisters-in-law: Nancy (Tom) Davis of Eau Claire, Glenda Schaefer of Toledo, and Peggy LaVanway of Eau Claire; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.