Obituary of John M Kirk Jr.

John Michael Kirk Jr. of South Orange, formerly of Maplewood and Elizabeth passed into eternal rest at home on December 21, 2017. Relatives and friends are invited to attend the visiting hours on Tuesday, December 26th from 2-4 and 7-9 at Preston Funeral Home 153 South Orange Avenue, South Orange. Funeral Liturgy at Our lady of Sorrows Roman Catholic Church, 217 Prospect Street, South Orange on Wed, Dec 27th at 10:30 AM. Entombment at Gate of Heaven Cemetery, East Hanover. John enlisted in the United States Navy in 1942. His typing ability qualified him for the intelligence division “Submarine Finder” where he proudly and diligently gave his time and talent until his honorable discharge in 1945. John played on a Navy baseball team during his service. After his discharge he sought employment in the insurance field and continued his education at Seton Hall University where he received his B.S. in Business Management. He was employed by the American Life Insurance Co. of New York, rising to the level of Vice President. He served as President of the Accident and Health Club and was written up in “Who’s Who in Insurance’. John lived a full and wonderful life with his devoted wife, loving children and grandchildren. He will be held forever in their hearts and will be dearly missed. Surviving is his wife ‘the love of his life’ of 61 years, Josephine Silano Kirk, his caring daughters Joanne Kirk Murphy and her husband Kevin of Mendham, Kathy Kirk Pinho and her husband Frank of Millstone, his cherished son John Michael Kirk III and his wife Ana of Clinton. He leaves 10 wonderful grandchildren: Tara, Conor and Michaela Murphy, Frank (Brenna) Pinho, Gabriella Thomson (James) and Nick Pinho, Katie Ocello (Domenic) John Kirk IV, Emily and Peter Kirk. John was predeceased by his loving daughter Karen Kirk Sedovic and her son Julian, his parents John and Elsie Kirk and sisters Helen Dibella, Rita Lindmar and Elsie Hasselbrink. In lieu of flowers donations in John’s memory to Our Lady of Sorrows Food Pantry, 217 Prospect Street, South Orange, NJ 07079 would be appreciated.