Kirk Edward Thompson

Kirk Edward Thompson, age 64, of Clarkston, Michigan, passed away on October 23, 2025 at William Beaumont Hospital after a strong and courageous battle with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). Kirk was a true hero, always up for an adventure, and dedicated his life to serving his family and his community.

Kirk and the Big Outdoors Kirk conquered every aspect of the outdoors, never skipping a moment to touch up his lawn, cruise a new lake, scale a tree for firewood, or sit pensively in his garage as a large thunderstorm rolled through.

Every year, Kirk looked forward to the first big snowfall so he could take his snowmobile (that he sometimes parked in the family room) to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Kirk enjoyed riding with his son Josh and their buddies, zipping through the forest and building new pathways while deepening friendships along the way.

Kirk was a firefighter who not only knew how to extinguish fires but also how to carefully build them. He loved gathering at his family's Dixie Lake lot to construct towering bonfires, often reaching several stories high. Kirk would scale massive trees with a chainsaw just for fun, and regularly brought home piles of fresh firewood to

fuel his wood-burning stove, providing comfort and joy to his family that lasted throughout the long Michigan winters.

Towards the end of his life, Kirk loved serving as captain of his Yamaha boat – trading it in for an even bigger one

after just two years to cruise the Great Lakes with his ever-growing family.Kirk Loved His Big, Blended Family.

Kirk is preceded in death by his father Edward, and survived by a large, vibrant family. His mother Joy, his sister, Robin, married to Doug, and brother, Rod, married to Sandy. His son, Josh, married to Melanie, with 3 granddaughters, Sophia, Charlee, and Lilly.

His daughter, Angela, married to Travis, with 7 grandkids, Laina, Weston, Brynnleigh, Esmae, Amelia, Beau and

Gilead. His daughter, Cassie, married to Griffin, with granddaughter, Lennon. Kirk scored big love when he met his sweetheart, Carrie. They recently celebrated 10 years of marriage with great

devotion and loved exploring northern Michigan together.

And, he was a bonus Dad to Carrie’s kids. Son Trevor, and son Colin, married to Kaci. Daughter, Lauren, married to Brandon.

Sergeant & Brother of the White Lake Fire Department

Kirk joined the White Lake Fire Department in 1996 and served a loyal and heroic 26 years. Kirk was surrounded

by a brotherhood of first responders, building long, lasting relationships throughout and beyond his time with the

department.

Kirk's dedicated service earned him numerous awards and accolades, most notably the Firefighter of the Year award

in 2005, which recognized his unwavering commitment to both the department and the community. Following his retirement, this prestigious annual award was renamed the Kirk Thompson Firefighter of the Year Award, establishing his legacy as the standard for White Lake Fire Department service members for years to come. Kirk’s brothers supported him throughout his life and up until his death, escorting him with dignity and respect in a

formal procession from the hospital.

Kirk’s Victory over the Battle with immense strength and bravery, Kirk battled Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) until his transition to the Heavenly Kingdom on October 23, 2025. He was supported and comforted at every stage of his journey by a remarkable group of caregivers, family, friends, and neighbors.

Celebrating Kirk’s Heroic Life

Please join us in celebrating Kirk on Saturday, November 8, 2025

OverTyme Grill & Tap Room, 4724 Dixie Highway, Waterford, Michigan 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM: Eulogy and Prayer

1:00 PM – 4:00 PM: Sharing Memories and Laughter

In memory of Kirk, the family requests donations to ALS of Michigan:

https://alsofmichigan.donordrive.com/general-donations/donate.