Honoring Tradition.
Celebrating Life.
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Michael Kirby

July 2, 1960 - August 20, 2011
Lamont/Coopersville, MI

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Visitation

Thursday, August 25, 2011
2:00 PM to 4:00 PM EDT
Heritage Life Story Funeral Homes
Alt & Shawmut Hills Chapel
2120 Lake Michigan Dr., N.W.
Grand Rapids, MI 49504
(616) 453-8263
Driving Directions

Visitation

Thursday, August 25, 2011
6:00 PM to 9:00 PM EDT
Heritage Life Story Funeral Homes
Alt & Shawmut Hills Chapel
2120 Lake Michigan Dr., N.W.
Grand Rapids, MI 49504
(616) 453-8263
Driving Directions

Service

Friday, August 26, 2011
11:00 AM EDT
Holy Spirit Catholic Church
2230 Lake Michigan Dr.
Grand Rapids, MI 49504

Contributions


At the family's request memorial contributions are to be made to those listed below. Please forward payment directly to the memorial of your choice.

Kirby Children College Education Fund
P.O. Box 2848
Grand Rapids, MI 49501

Consider contributions to The Kirby Children College Education Fund or St. Luke's University Parish Building Fund

St. Luke's University Parish
6163 Lake Michigan Dr. NW
Allendale, MI 49401

Flowers


Below is the contact information for a florist recommended by the funeral home.

Ball Park Floral
8 Valley Ave.
Grand Rapids, MI 49504
(616) 459-3409
Driving Directions
Web Site

Life Story / Obituary


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Mike Kirby was a hard worker, an enthusiastic boater, and a diehard Michigan Fan. A man with high expectations of both himself and others, Mike lived life to the fullest. Leaving behind a large and loving family, a successful career, many close friends and a 40-foot boat, it is easy to believe that Mike died without regrets.

Michael Joseph Kirby was born on July 2, 1960, in Grand Rapids. His proud parents were Eugene and Sandy Kirby. Michael, or Mike as most people called him, was Eugene and Sandy’s first child. Before long, however, Mike would have two younger brothers, Patrick and Steven. With three rambunctious boys running around, life at the Kirby home on Springbrook Avenue was never dull. The children attended the local Kenowa Elementary School and then Kenowa Hills High School. Enthusiastic and naturally athletic, Mike played both baseball and football throughout his student years. When school let out in the summer, the Kirby family often vacationed on Dean Lake, where Mike’s grandparents had a house. Mike loved the outdoors, and enjoyed these summers spent on the lake, as well as fishing and snowmobiling trips in the winter.

Mike graduated from high school in 1978, and started looking for a job right away. He was successful, and started work as a builder, building residential homes. The skills he needed in his new profession hadn’t all been taught in high school, but that didn’t stop Mike. Persistent and dedicated, Mike worked from the bottom up, taking classes and doing everything needed to improve his skills and master his craft. It wasn’t too long before Mike’s hard work paid off, and he got a job as a technician at Honeywell, where he would work for twenty years.

Around this time, Mike met and started dating Lisa Prowoznik. Mike and Lisa were married, and Mike became the proud father of three beautiful daughters: Lindsey, Michelle and Aubrey. Mike was a wonderful father, and never happier than when spending time with his kids.He called his girls daily to check up on them. He especially enjoyed sharing his love of the outdoors with them, often taking them boating on the lake. At this time Mike lived in Comstock Park, Michigan, and his kids attended Sparta Schools. After nine years of marriage, Mike and Lisa decided that they were not meant to be together, and filed for divorce.

His house was always kept in top condition, thanks to Mike’s skills as a handyman and his habit of puttering around the house and yard, fixing anything that wasn’t quite up to par. He was also proud of his advanced technological talent of texting. He thought he was the "coolest dad" being able to to that.

Fortunately, Mike got a second chance at marriage when he fell in love with Cathy Yeo. Mike and Cathy met in 1996, and after dating for a year decided they wanted to spend the rest of their lives together. In addition to a wife, Mike also got four step-children in the bargain: Joshua, Charlie, Judy and Chelsea. Not long after, Mike and Cathy were delighted to welcome a son into the world, Joseph, the youngest and final member of the Kirby family. The family first lived in Ferrysburg, later moving to Coopersville and finally Lamont (all in Michigan). Mike worked at Johnson Controls for two years, and then moved on to Siemens Building Technologies, where he has worked for the last eleven years.

Mike believed in the “Work Hard, Play Hard” school of thought, and had a hobby for every season. In the summer, the whole family loved taking boat trips on the 40-foot boat which Mike kept docked in Spring Lake. He had many close friends at Village Cove Marina who often spent many weekends together with the Cunningham's, the Roger's, the VanderWoude's and many others. Every winter, Mike went deer-hunting with his buddies Craig, Toby, Jamie and Bernie. The Kirby family also vacationed in both Mexico and Florida. Whether it was fishing, boating or hunting, Mike was always the life of the party, humorous and full of fun. Another of Mike’s passions was college sporting events. No one who knew Mike ever had any doubt about his loyalties – he was an avid, rabid Michigan fan! Mike never missed a game, and often attended them in person in Ann Arbor. He was also a big fan of Muskegon Fury Hockey, taking the family to L.C. Walker Arena for games.

When Mike and Cathy joined St. Luke's Parish three years ago, the Mass was held in the Gym. Mike quickly became involved with the building committee, planning the new church and in the meantime, helped to renovate the Dollar Castle into the Catholic Castle, making him "the most religious guy I know"

Michael Kirby died near his boat very unexpectedly on Saturday morning, August 20, 2011, at the age of fifty-one. Mike was a kind, outgoing, and generous friend, as well as a loving husband and father. He will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered by all those lucky enough to have known him.

Mike was preceded in death by his mother, Sandy Kirby. He is survived by his wife of 14 years, Cathy Kirby; his children, Lindsey Kirby, Michelle Kirby, Aubrey Kirby, and Joe Kirby; his step-children, Joshua (Laura) Yeo, Charlie (Emily) Yeo, Judy Yeo, and Chelsea Yeo; his father, Eugene Kirby; his brothers, Patrick (Debbie) Kirby and Steven (Debbie) Kirby; his mother-in-law, Jean Wysocki; his special uncle and aunt, Vince and Olga Kersten; and other aunts and uncles, cousins, step-grandchildren, nieces, nephews and many friends.

Heaven is getting a "Fun Guy - That's Crazy".

The Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Friday morning at 11:00 a.m., at Holy Spirit Catholic Church, 2230 Lake Michigan Dr. NW. Relatives and friends can meet his family on Thursday from 2-4 and 6-9 p.m. at Heritage Life Story Funeral Homes – Alt & Shawmut Hills Chapel, 2120 Lake Michigan Dr, and at the church on Friday from 10:00 a.m. until the Mass begins. In lieu of flowers, please consider contributions in his memory to the Kirby Children College Fund c/o Lake Michigan Credit Union or St. Luke’s University Parish Building Fund. Please visit Mike’s personal memory page at www.lifestorynet.com, where you can read more about his life, share a favorite memory, and sign the guest book.

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