Charles “Charlie” Kirby was born in Ironwood, WI, to Lucille Romanowski and JC “Neil” Kirby. They moved to Rhinelander where Charlie grew up, graduating from high school in 1968. He graduated from UW-Stout in 1972 where he met his wife, Joanne Wadhams. After graduating from Stout, he continued his education at Hamline University School of Law. He taught Business Law at Stout for a year and then got into health care law. He worked for Mayo Clinic, Ascension Health in St Louis and the University of Wisconsin Hospital & Clinics in Madison. He ended his working career closer to his hometown at Church Mutual in Merrill. After retirement, the couple moved back to Rochester, MN, due to Charlie’s serious health issues. Winters were tough so they moved to Sebastian, FL, which Charlie loved. His diagnosis of MF-myelofibrosis was a battle he could not win (He died 2/27/2021). He never complained and kept his up-beat attitude to the very end. He took his final breath with his wife by his side. They would have been married 50 years in August.
He leaves behind his wife Joanne, a son Thomas Kirby (Adrienne Eberhart) and a sister-in-law Diana Kirby, nephews Michael Kirby (Cindy) and Peter Kirby (Nicole). He was great at keeping up with many friends over the past 50 years. We will miss his wonderful stories but happy he is no longer in pain.
If you want to share any memories, you may reach his wife at: [email protected]