Larry D. Kirkeby

Larry was born February 3, 1938 to Hank & Mildred Kirkeby in Chicago, Illinois. Larry had an older brother Kenneth, an identical twin brother Lenny, and a younger sister Susan.

In 1966, he married Sandra Sue Kirkeby. Together, they had three children, Larry Don, Liz, and Stephanie. They later welcomed several grandchildren.

After graduating High School from Timber Lake, South Dakota he went to the University of Illinois where he received his Bachelor of Science degree. He later went on to achieve his Masters in Public Administration from the University of Oklahoma. Larry was a schoolteacher and a basketball coach and enjoyed investing in the lives of the young people around him.

Larry received his commission into the Air Force in 1962 and began navigator training on the B-52 aircraft. He became a master navigator while serving in the Vietnam War and then as an instructor for B-52 radar navigators in Minot, North Dakota. He completed over 4,400 flying hours, 2,500 of these in B-52s. After his time in Minot, he became an Air Office Commander for a squadron of cadets at the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado. After working in base operations at Barksdale Air Force Base for several years, he became the Commandant of the Eighth Air Force Noncommissioned Officer Leadership School. This was his last act of service before retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel from the Air Force in 1983. During his 21 years in the Air Force, Larry was awarded with a Meritorious Service Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal, Air Medal, Expert Marksmanship Ribbon, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Combat Readiness Medal, Air Force Longevity Service Award Ribbon, National Defenses Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Airforce Outstanding Unit Award, Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross, and a Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal.

After retiring from the Air Force, Larry took on the role of Head administrator at Shreve Christian Academy in Shreveport. Three years later, he became an insurance and annuity salesman for Horace Mann. He was a senior account executive for 19 years and was inducted into the Horace Mann Hall of Fame. He enjoyed qualifying for the various travel opportunities that Sue and he experienced together.

As a young husband and father he made the decision to devote his life to Christ and became involved in church ministries. Larry served as an elder at Airline Dr. Church of Christ. He taught Bible classes and spent his free time teaching GED classes at the local prison, where he also took part in prison ministry every Sunday afternoon.

Larry was a loving husband, father, and grandfather. He was a devoted man of God who found purpose in investing in the young people around him. He loved singing, cracking jokes, and spending time with his family.

Larry is preceded in death by his beloved wife, Sue, older brother Kenneth, son, Larry Don, and grandson, Phillip.

Larry is survived by his two daughters, Liz (& Charlie) and Stephanie (& Darryl); twin brother, Lenny; younger sister, Susan; and grandchildren, John, Allison, Jennifer, Ashley, Kelby, and Kacey.