William Kirk Was A Compassionate And Dedicated Psychiatrist

William Edward Kirk, MD passed away August 9, 2018 surrounded by his loving family.

Born in 1933 to Cecil R. Kirk and Ruth Weindorf Kirk in Erie, PA he was the youngest of four children. He is preceded in death by his parents, his brothers Jim, John “Jack” and sister Mary Rita.

William (known as Bill) received his undergraduate degree from Gannon College in Erie, PA and his medical degree at St. Louis University Medical School. Bill interned at St. Francis Hospital in Pittsburgh, PA. Following this internship he completed a two-year residency in Psychiatry at Warren State Hospital in Warren, PA. He then moved to Ann Arbor, MI where he completed a fellowship in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at the University of Michigan.

Upon completion of his Fellowship he became medical director at York Woods Psychiatric Center, where during his tenure he helped develop a Child Psychiatry Fellowship. He was also instrumental in making significant improvement to the mental health world by working with Child Guidance Clinics to help eliminate the isolation between city, county, and state organizations. His psychiatry career spanned five decades including hospital and private practice as well as teaching at the University of Michigan. His organizational membership work included serving as the President of the Michigan Psychiatric Society and being an active member of the American Psychiatric Association. Bill served in the Pennsylvania National Guard and the Army Reserve in Michigan.

He was a compassionate and dedicated psychiatrist perpetually on a mission to make the world a better place through helping those in need find their paths to healing.

Bill was an avid Michigan football fan and a season ticket holder for years, always making sure to share this passion with his wife, children, and many friends. Football Saturdays he would be dressed from head to toe in maize and blue loudly playing the fight song in order to wake his family. He could frequently be heard proudly saying “Let’s go Blue!" Bill was an incredible father, teacher, and role model to his children.

He and his spirit for life and thirst for knowledge will be greatly missed by his family and friends. He was a devoted and loving husband to his soul mate, Jean Marie Vickey for over 60 years. They recently celebrated this love for each other surrounded by dear friends and family.

Bill is survived by his loving wife Jean, son Douglas of Tokyo, Japan, daughters: Kathy and husband George Huesman and their four children, Ryan, Matthew, Ali and Michael of Loveland, OH, Cindy and husband Mark Carpenter and their daughter Abbey of Waukegan, IL, Karen and husband Jeff Newman and Jeff’s sons Joseph and Patrick of Williamsport, PA, Jeanmarie and son Cody and daughter Julia of Ewing, NJ, Mary and husband Chris Clarke and sons Evan and Tyler of Carlsbad, CA, Susan and husband Stephen Rosales and sons William and Joseph of Saline, MI, Kristen and husband Fletcher Flower and sons, Jack and Fletcher of Montrose, CO, Michelle and her fiancé Randy Miller of Yardley, PA, and Sharon and husband Mark Zeller of Faribault, MN.

A Mass of the Christian Burial will be held on Wednesday, August 15, 2018 at 2:00 P.M., at St. Andrew Catholic Church in Saline, with a visitation starting at1:00 P.M. Family will receive friends on Tuesday, August 14, 2018 at the Robison-Bahnmiller Funeral Home in Saline from 3:00 P.M. until 8:00 P.M. with a prayer service from 6:00 P.M. until 7:00 P.M. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, www.alz.org or the Catholic Social Services of Washtenaw County,www.csswashtenaw.org. Envelopes will be available at the funeral home. Additionally, a mass and celebration of life will be held on Saturday, August 18, at 12:00 P.M. at St. Francis Catholic Church in McKean, PA. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to Alzheimer’s Association, www.alz.org or Catholic Social Services of Washtenaw County www.csswashtenaw.org.

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