John W. Kirby (96) of Effingham
Published on October 19 2020 6:36 pm
John W. Kirby, 96, of Effingham, IL, passed away on Sunday, October 18, 2020 at his home.
Funeral services with Masonic Rites will be held at 1:00 p.m. Sunday, October 25, 2020 at Johnson Funeral Home in Effingham, IL. Burial will be in Oak Ridge Cemetery in Effingham with military rites. Visitation will be held from 12 noon to 1:00 p.m. Sunday prior to the service at the funeral home.
Memorials may be made to the Shriners, Centenary United Methodist Church or HSHS Hospice Southern Illinois. Online condolences may be shared by clicking here.
Due to Covid-19 concerns, please wear a mask for all services and follow all social distancing guidelines.
John was born on May 7, 1924, in Flora, IL, the son of Fred Kirby and Evelyn King. He married Patricia Porter on April 29, 1951. She preceded him in death on February 28, 2020.
John was a veteran of the United States Navy serving his country during World War II as a 1st Class Pharmacist’s Mate. He was a member of the Effingham Elks, Effingham Masonic Lodge, Shriners, Effingham American Legion, Effingham VFW, and Centenary United Methodist Church.
In 1945 John attended Purdue University on the G.I. Bill.
John was an entrepreneur beginning with a skating rink, a drive-in theater and coin operated laundries in Salem, Flora, Carmi, Olney, Fairfield and Harrisburg. He invented a Muck Cooker to recapture the perc that was left in the filter after the dry-cleaning process. In 1967 he invented satin pillow cases which sold from Chicago to Texas and in all the P.N. Hirsch stores.
John was a founding member of the Effingham Sportsman Club. He built the Cardinal Golf Course and condos at Lake Sara.
In 1967 John got permits to build Cable TV systems in Vandalia, Newton, Salem, Harrisburg, El Dorado, Herrin, Murphysboro, Ramsey, Brownstown, Alma, Kinmundy, Heartville, Watson, Patoka and West Frankfort. He started Channel 13 that was weather all the time. John originated televised election coverage so the people got the results of the elections the same time the County Recorder got them. He bought Channel 3 Harrisburg and ran it for a few years.
In 1979 and for 35 years John and Patty wintered in the Florida Keys.
In 1988 John sold the cable-TV systems – “One time I retired.”
In 1994 John filed and received approval for an FM radio station for Teutopolis: The X Radio and KJ Country, Kirby John. He sold the station to Premier Broadcasting.
John and Patty traveled extensively. Their favorite trip was on the Concorde around the World. They visited Singapore, Sydney, Hong Kong, Delhi, Russia, Germany and Paris. They have ridden on the Orient Express and cruised the Mediterranean and Baltic.
John is survived by his beloved daughters, Karen Ann (husband, Charlie) Luchtefeld of Effingham, Dr. Kristie Lynn Kirby (husband, Dr. Rich Kessler) of Brentwood, TN, and Kathy Lael McElroy of Effingham; grandchildren, Dr. Jason Luchtefeld (wife, Dr. Lisette Caissie), Mandy Luchtefeld (husband, Anthony) Willenborg, Kendrick (wife, Anna) McElroy, and John Kessler; and great-grandchildren, Sydney and Olivia Willenborg, and Emelia and Elijah McElroy.
He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, and an infant granddaughter.