William 'Bill' Kirschke

William Hermann Kirschke passed away the evening of Tuesday, December 11, at Munson Hospice House, after a long and well-fought battle with prostate cancer.
Bill was many things to many people: he was a loving husband to Jane (Freeman) Kirschke for almost 60 years, and a loving father to Brian, Mark, and Annie.
He was generous beyond belief, willing to volunteer his time, money, or spirit to anyone he knew, always ready to help out a neighbor, or fix something for someone. He made friends of strangers everywhere that he went.
The list of his achievements and activities is long and varied. He was an avid model train hobbyist, actively involved in the Northern Michigan Railroad Club and the Festival of Trains for many years. The media always adored him and found him at these events, which sometimes made for suppressed giggling by professional newscasters. He was on the Board of "Save Our Downtown", caring deeply that Traverse City remain a unique and charming place to live. Until his diagnosis he was a lifelong blood donor for the Red Cross. He also volunteered for the Film Festival for many years.
He loved to work on construction projects, building a family cottage on Elk Lake, helping finish his kids' houses, building shadow boxes, and garden hods. He was creative and could build anything, and do it well. In 2012 his garden was featured in the Friendly Garden Club's Garden Walk. He loved butterflies and learned to collect and hatch monarchs. He shared that experience with neighborhood children and at a local nature center. The Fifth Street's annual block party was lucky to call him its Master Barbeque Chef for the last 17 years. He perfected a peanut brittle recipe and made deliveries each December to friends, neighbors, and acquaintances, anyone who made the "good" list.
Born in Detroit, April 29, 1934 of German immigrant parents Willy Emil and Helene Neubauer Kirschke, he attended Wilbur Wright Vocational High School in Detroit, and, with the help of his brother, obtained a scholarship to attend Michigan State University. He started school there and took a break after two years to volunteer for service in the US Army 1954-1956 in Germany and was not a stranger to the Hofbrauhaus. He was a member of the "C" Company of the 15th Armored Infantry Battalion of the Fifth Armored Division.
Bill graduated from MSU, with a B.S. in Science and a Masters in Geology. Following graduation he worked for Texaco in Texas and then later Consumers Power in Michigan. His group later became CMS Northern Michigan Exploration Oil and Gas and in 1974 Bill transferred to Traverse City and moved with his family "up north." He retired after 32 years with the company.
He was preceded in death by his father Willy Emil Kirschke and his mother Helene Neubauer Kirschke, sister-in-law Bertha Kirschke, and brother-in-law Patrick Freeman.
Bill is survived by his wife Jane (Freeman) Kirschke, his children Brian (Nancy) Kirschke, Mark Kirschke, and Annie (Steve) Hiltner.
He also leaves his brother Winfred Max Albert (Rose) Kirschke, as well as grandchildren Sarah Hiltner, Ethan Hiltner, Tyler Kirschke, Kaylee (Tomash) Slovian, and Dustin Housh.
Visitation will be Monday, December 17, from 5-8 pm at Reynolds Jonkhoff Funeral Home, at 305 Sixth Street, in Traverse City.
A celebration of Bill's life will be held at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, December 18, with a visitation beforehand at 10 a.m. at Reynolds Jonkhoff Funeral Home. A reception will follow the Celebration at the same location.
In lieu of flowers, or customary remembrances, please consider making a donation to one of the following organizations:
Munson Hospice, 1105 Sixth Street, Traverse City, MI 49684
Traverse Health Clinic, 1719 South Garfield Ave, Traverse City, MI 49686
The Father Fred Foundation, 826 Hastings Street, Traverse City, MI 49686
The family is being cared for and served by the Reynolds Jonkhoff Funeral Home and Cremation Services.