Archive: Around Town

Kirk ShreveKirk Shreve passed away a year ago. He was only 49 years old.  But in that short time he left a mark on Lansing that is indelible, and that is why we are honoring him on the anniversary of his passing as the Star of the Month.  When Karen, my wife and business partner, and I decided to publish the Lansing Star we made up a notebook with screen shots and examples of what it would look like, and we sought out advice from community leaders.  We met Kirk at the corner coffee shop to ask whether he thought our advertising rates were realistic, and about how he felt we should handle obituaries.

He was generous with his advice, and then unexpectedly he pointed to the top banner ad on the mockup of the front page and said, "How do I get this ad?  I want to buy this space for a year."  And he renewed without blinking when the first year was up.

Karen and I were taken aback.  Our attorney was vacationing in Italy, so the incorporation of our company wasn't complete.  That meant we couldn't get a business checking account, and had no way to accept money.  With his amazing encouragement we continued to build the Star, and launched it a few months later.  But that was Kirk -- merely doing business in the community wasn't enough.  He had to support it in every way possible.


And support it he did.  You may have seen "Lansing Funeral Home" listed on countless community initiatives, but he didn't want the limelight -- frequently he gave without taking credit.  He participated in the SADD staged drunk driving demonstrations, playing it straight as he drove the hearse in to take away high school students who had been 'killed.'  The somber group of men in black suits, loading a gurney into a hearse made a lasting impression on the students who watched.  One actually fainted.  I am sure that image stuck with those students as it has with me, making them think twice before driving drunk.

I didn't know Kirk very well, but I wanted to.  When he died Karen had the idea that I should make a CD of the recorded interview I did with Kirk when I did a profile about Lansing Funeral Home.  I decided to listen to it again.  I didn't think there was anything that would upset his family, but I wanted to make sure.  I am glad I did.  I was struck then as I was when I originally interviewed him by how inspirational he was.  As a funeral director he was forced to face death and life with a unique perspective few of us experience.  That perspective had given him strength of his convictions and in his character.  It made him treat every day as if it were his last, treating everyone he touched with generosity and compassion.

In that interview he spoke fondly of his long time partner Alex Wood, who was with him when Kirk realized he was about to die.  From all accounts he met that challenge with the same preparation and dignity as he did every other.  He practiced what he preached.

Being around Kirk made you want to be a better person yourself.  Yet he was unassuming and the last person to tell you how to behave.  He led by example, and in doing so, like a star, he brought light to the Lansing community.  That light remains, as parts of it twinkle from each person he touched.

-- Dan Veaner, Editor, Lansing Star
 

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I knew Kirk in two capacities: as a member of the Lansing United Methodist Church and as the director of the Lansing Funeral Home.  I came to appreciate him in both places.  As a church member, Kirk was in church most Sundays.  He also served on LUMC’s nominating committee, helping us find people to serve in the church’s various ministries.     As director of the Lansing Funeral Home, the main funeral home serving the community, I got the chance to work with Kirk whenever one of our church families suffered a loss.  Kirk had a special gift of caring.  

Probably one of my favorite times with Kirk came out of the unique opportunity clergy have to ride with a funeral director to and from the cemetery in the front seat of the hearse.    We talked about a number of things: anecdotes about the life of the deceased, about how to help a particular family member with a loss, about the importance of receiving every day as a gift.    Kirk clearly loved what he did and cared deeply about the people he served.   I miss him and am very grateful our paths crossed.

-- Bill Gottschalk-Fielding, Pastor Lansing United Methodist Church

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Kirk was a very dedicated Lion and had served as president of our club in the past.  He was always available for our events and everyone so enjoyed working with him.  I had the pleasure of working directly with him on a couple of occasions and we did well together; I think the chemistry between us was good. 

His sense of humor was unchallengeable and he made me laugh on many occasions.  He was the "broom man", responsible for ordering the infamous lions club brooms as well as keeping an inventory and selling same.  I truly miss him tremendously and he cannot be replaced.

-- Char Wilson, Lansing Lions Club

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