Jesse Kirk

Jesse Burnette Kirk was born Feb. 29, 1936, and passed from this earth Wednesday, April 17, 2024, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. He was the first child of Jeasse F. and Lillian Kirk.

He graduated from Fisk-Rombauer High School in 1954 and attended Southeast Missouri State College in 1954-55. He then worked at McDonnell Douglas before beginning his career as a bread man in 1959. He continued in the bread business for 46 years, retiring in 2005. In retirement he and Carol traveled on several mission trips to Appalachia for their church.

On June 7, 1959, he married Carol Hillis, and they enjoyed 64 1/2 years together as a husband and wife. Theirs was a special love that saw them through plenty and want, good times and not so good times, sickness and health.

Jesse was ordained as a deacon in the mid-1960s and faithfully and devotedly served both Everett Street Baptist Church and Miner Baptist Church in that capacity.

He was a very proud father to Pamela and Keith. Vacation time was always about spending time as a family. He especially enjoyed sharing his love of trout fishing and Bennett Spring with his children, son-in-law and granddaughters and grandson. He had hoped to pass that love on down to his great-grandson in the future.

When he became a grandfather in 1996 and 1998, he became a new man. In his eyes, his granddaughters were the smartest, prettiest girls, and he did not hesitate to share that fact with everyone he met. He gained a grandson in March 2022, when Aaron Griffin joined the family. He was as proud as he could be when Aaron became the city administrator of New Madrid.

In October 2023, Jesse got a new title of great-grandpa, and even though his memory was fading, he always remembered Teddy and would be happy to tell you all sorts of Teddy stories.

Jesse is survived by his wife, Carol Kirk of Sikeston; daughter and son-in-law, Rodney and Pamela Pensel of Jackson; son, Keith of Sikeston; grandchildren, Katelynn and Aaron Griffin of New Madrid and Lydia Pensel of Carbondale, Illinois; great-grandson, Theodore Scott Griffin of New Madrid; sisters, Darlene Lewis of Fisk and Loretta (Bruce) Yarbro of Poplar Bluff; and brother Wilbur (Brenda) Kirk of Cape Girardeau. He is also survived by nieces, nephews, cousins and many friends.

He was preceded in death by his sister, Colleen Riepe; parents; mother- and father-in-law, John and Almedia Hillis; sister-in-law, Helen Huff Hartzog, and her husbands, Evan Huff and Jack Hartzog; and brother-in-law, Melvin Lewis.

Pallbearers are Wilber Kirk, Eric Patterson, Lee Lewis, Robert Morgan, Brian Yarbro and Aaron Griffin.

Honorary pallbearers are the deacons of Miner Baptist Church.

Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Sunday, April 21, at Ponder Funeral Home in Sikeston.

The funeral service will be at 2 p.m. Monday, April 22, at the funeral home, with his son-in-law, Dr. Rodney Pensel, officiating.

Interment will be at Brown Chapel Cemetery in Broseley.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may take the form of donations to MidAmerica Transplant, 1110 Highlands Plaza Drive, East Suite #100, St. Louis, MO 63110 and Miner Baptist Church Food Pantry.