Kirk Porter

Kirk A. Porter, 55, of Atchison, KS, passed away on Saturday, July 19, 2014 at the Heartland Regional Medical Center, St. Joseph, MO, surrounded by his loving family and friends. Funeral Services will be 10:30 AM, Thursday, July 24, at the Becker-Dyer-Stanton Funeral Home with Rev. Ken Watkins officiating. Burial will follow in the Mt. Vernon Cemetery, Atchison. Visitation will be from 6:00 to 8:00 pm, Wednesday, at the funeral home. The family suggests memorial contributions in honor of Kirk be made to St. Mark’s Lutheran Church and may be sent in care of the funeral home. Words of comfort and remembrance may be left online at www.beckerdyer.com. Kirk was born on September 8, 1958 at the Atchison Hospital, the son of Charles K. and Patricia L. (Lewman) Porter. Kirk attended Trinity Lutheran Grade School, graduated from Atchison High School in 1976, and graduated from Emporia (KS) State College with a Bachelors degree in General Studies and minor in Psychology in 1981. Kirk then attended Air Traffic Control School. In 1993, Kirk graduated from Central Missouri State University with a Masters degree in Safety Administration. Kirk had worked for several years with the American Red Cross before working for the Missouri Pacific Railroad from 1984-1992. After receiving his Masters in Safety Administration, Kirk started working for Unit Rail Anchor Company of Atchison, and then Snorkel and Johnson Controls, both of St. Joseph. Kirk was currently the business manager in his wife’s CPA firm in Atchison Kirk and Patsy A. Ernzen were united in marriage by Pastor Baird at 2:30 pm on May 13, 1989 in his mother’s backyard after Patsy had just graduated from Benedictine College at 12:30pm. A reception followed at the VFW in Atchison. Together, they were blessed on June 10, 1994 with a beautiful daughter, Margaret Grace (Maggie), who was born in Shawnee Mission, KS. Another lovely daughter, Molly Eva Ruth, was born on September 8, 1999 at the Heartland Hospital, the same day as her dad’s birthday. Kirk was a wonderful husband, father, and son. He greatly enjoyed being outside hunting, fishing, and working in his yard and going to the farm. He had many friends that accompanied him to the farm for target practice and cooking wild game. Kirk also enjoyed taking his family on adventurous vacations. He was always willing to help anyone that needed help. Kirk was an active member of the Atchison Kiwanis Club, Sons of The American Legion and St. Mark’s Lutheran Church. Kirk loved life, his family, and friends very much. He always had a smile for everyone. Kirk was preceded in death by his father, Charles K. Porter; mother-in-law, Sherry Lapp; grandparents, Grace and Leonard Lewman and Charles and Ruth Porter. Survivors include his wife of 25 years, Patsy A. Porter; daughters, Margaret Grace ‘Maggie’ Porter and Molly Eva Ruth Porter, all of the home; his mother, Patricia Porter, Atchison.