Thomas Burton VanKirk Sr.

It is with saddened hearts we announce the passing of Thomas B. Van Kirk on January 16, 2018. Tom was born and raised in Sparta and lived his entire life on land settled by his ancestors. Tom founded his excavating business in 1961 and his son, Tom Jr. joined him and they ran the business until 2014.

Tom coached Little League Football and Baseball in Sparta for 18 years as well as Babe Ruth Baseball. Sports and coaching were his favorite pastimes. Tom also enjoyed his time spent at his cabin in Rangeley Lakes, Maine where he hunted and snowmobiled with his close friends. His greatest joy was time spent at the cabin with family and snowmobiling with his grandchildren.

Tom will be deeply missed by his family, friends and all who knew him and remembered his humor and endless love and devotion to the family.

Tom is survived by his wife Molly of 63 years and sons Tom (Jennifer), Bob (Amy), daughter Sally (Jesse) and grandchildren Kristin Raymond (Phil), Eric Gorman, Megan, Matt, Lindsey, Brianna and Emma Van Kirk, great-granddaughter Finley Raymond and Tom’s sister Marilyn Mull (Van Kirk).

Relatives and friends are invited to celebrate Tom’s life on January 20, 2018 at 9:30amto 12:30pm at the Goble Funeral Home, 22 Main Street, Sparta NJ 07871.

In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to the Sparta Historical Society, for the Van Kirk Museum, P.O. Box 312, Sparta, NJ 07871.