Photo courtesy of Merritt Funeral Home
Aug 8, 1939 - Jan 10, 2025
God bless you and your family, I know how hard it is when you lose a family member, I have been a friend for many years.
Larenne Haas
January 18, 2025 | Mendota, IL | Friend
Mr. Kirby encouraged an engagement with science that I have carried with me since junior high: insect collection, flamingo notebook, science fair project on molds, etc., etc. I am so grateful to have had him as my teacher.
Kathy Christensen Henning
January 17, 2025 | Middleton, WI | Student
I would like to send my prayers for comfort during this difficult time. Mr. Kirby was my 8th grade science teacher and call me PI because he loved my mom's pies (Carolyn Pollard/Octave Restaurant). I tried giving a pie to get out of an assignment. He enjoyed the pie and I still did the assignment. He was a great teacher and man.
Annie Short (Pollard)
January 15, 2025 | Mendota, IL | Student
Dear Cathy, Sons, & your families, you have our sympathy upon your loss. Our Sons had Mr. Kirby as a teacher. I knew Mr. Kirby from my teaching days at Northbrook & within Dist. 289. Bob knew Kirby from early morning conversation & coffee at McDonald's. Kirby always remembered the coffee group with signed birthday cards & drawings. What a guy! Prayers for your comfort & peace, from Cyndy & Bob Kreiser
Robert & Cynthia Kreiser
January 14, 2025 | MENDOTA, IL | Friend
Uncle Kirb was an extraordinary man and I always looked forward to seeing him through the years. He seemed to be the very embodiment of a witty Person with a casual ease.
All of our love and prayers to Aunt Cathy and family
Andrew/ Nancy Lamb
January 13, 2025 | Seymour, IL | Family
Thinking of you, Kathi, and all of your sons. Remember the good days.
Jo Carr
January 13, 2025 | Butte, MT | Friend
My deepest sympathy to the Kirby family, Mr. Kirby was my eighth grade science teacher. And one of my favorite I think he helped the classes attention with his humor.. It was a pleasure being in his class.. very sadly missed
Rhonda Bettner/gross
January 13, 2025 | Mendota, IL | Student
My deepest condolences to the Kirby family. Mr. Kirby was my eighth grade science teacher at Northbrook school very nice person very humorous sad we missed.
Rhonda Gross
January 13, 2025 | Mendota, IL | Student
I love you Mr.Kirby! . I’m so sorry to hear of his passing away! He gave me an emerald necklace I won in 7th grade! I learned about conduction testing and how science was just plain awesome! I really appreciated everything he did for us kids! Just a great teacher, friend, and person you could learn anything from! Thanks so much for touching our hearts Mr. KirbyRIP❤
Shallen Gross
January 13, 2025 | Mendota, IL | Friend
Emery ‘Kirb’ Kirby Jr., age 85 of Mendota passed away at 10:30am on Friday, January 10th, 2025 at Goldwater Care in Princeton, where he had been a resident for the past few years. He was born on August 8th, 1939 in Champaign, IL to Emery Kirby, Sr. and Beatrice Jane Strater.
In 1962, Emery married his high school sweetheart, Catherine McCollum, with the two recently celebrating 62 years of marriage. A long-time resident of Mendota since moving here in 1961 from Monticello, IL where Emery taught for 2 years before arriving to Mendota Public #289 to teach seventh grade science at Northbrook Elementary School for some 38 years. In addition to this, during the summer months he advocated for supplemental education through teaching migrant students at Holy Cross School. A man of faith, Emery was a long-standing member of the Mendota Bible Church.
Emery is survived by his wife, Catherine; their four sons (and their wives): Brent & Laurie Kirby of Hudson, IL; Matthew & Kelly Kirby of Sycamore, IL; Stuart & Maria Kirby of St. Augustine, FL; and Stephen Kirby of Winterset, IA. Emery was the proud grandfather of seven granddaughters: Hannah, Grace (Dustin), Lilly, Gabriela, Neva, Olivia and Cloe. Emery was preceded in death by his mother, Beatrice (Schwartz, nee Strater) Nelson.
Mr. Kirby was a proud University of Illinois fan who enjoyed supporting and attending their football & basketball games. Emery knew no stranger and was friendly to all he came into contact with. He enjoyed his morning coffee out at Ziggie's or McDonald's where he would begin most days conversing with local farmers, neighbors and friends. Emery will be missed.
A celebration of life service for Emery will be announced and held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family of Emery Kirby has asked that donations be made in his honor to the Alzheimer’s Association or the Illinois Education Association (IEA).
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