Family-Placed Obituary
GOVERNOR CLAUDE R. KIRK, Jr. January 7, 1926 - September 28, 2011 Governor Claude Roy Kirk, Jr. passed away peacefully in his sleep on Wednesday morning, September 28, 2011 at his home in West Palm Beach, FL. In 1968, Claude Kirk became Florida's 36th Governor and the first Republican governor of the state since Reconstruction. Claude Kirk would claim his greatest blessings to be his large family. Gov. Kirk is survived by his German-born wife, Erika Mattfeld Kirk; and his seven children, 14 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren which include: Sarah Patent (children: Sophie and Alexander), Katharine "Kitty" Crenshaw (married to United States Representative Ander Crenshaw) (R-Jacksonville), (children: Sarah and Brad Grace, and Alex Crenshaw), William Kirk (married to Tricia); (children: Neillie and Tom Butler, Laura and Andrew Willoughby, and Hannon and Cameron Doody), Frank Kirk, Adriana Dolabella, Claudia Kirk Barto (children: Wen, Kirk and Marina Barto), and Erik Kirk (married to Kristen); (children: Caroline, Teddy, Katherine "Kaki" and Annabelle). Gov. Claude Kirk will Lay In State on Friday, September 30, 2011 from 1:00 PM until 3:00 PM in Florida's Old Capitol building in Tallahassee, FL. A Funeral Service will be held at 1:00 PM on Monday, October 3, 2011 at Bethesda-By-The-Sea Episcopal Church, 141 South County Road, Palm Beach, FL 33480, with The Rev. James R. Harlan, Rector, officiating. The family will receive friends during a reception immediately following the Service. A Graveside Service with Military Honors will be held privately at the South Florida National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that donations made be made in the Governor's memory to The Everglades Foundation, 18001 Old Cutler Road, Suite 625, Palmetto Bay, FL 33157. QUATTLEBAUM FUNERAL HOME Family Owned and Operated (561) 832-5171 To express condolences and/or make donations Visit PalmBeachPost.com/obituaries
Published in The Palm Beach Post from September 30 to October 7, 2011
