Wayne Allen Kirk

Wayne Allen Kirk, known affectionately to all as Wayne, embarked on his last great adventure on February 2, 2026, when he revved up his celestial engine and sped off into the eternal sunset after 59 years of a life well-lived. Born on February 17, 1966, in the bustling city of Detroit, MI, to the late Waymond and Cornelia kirk. Wayne spent his final/after moments surrounded by the love and warmth of his family in the peaceful town of Gaylord, MI, with the same quiet dignity that marked his time on earth.

Wayne was a man who once knew the value of a day's work, and as an entrepreneur and mechanic, he spent countless hours under the hoods of cars, tinkering and toiling with a joy most people reserve for vacation days. His hands were rarely clean, but his heart was always pure. He was a man who could always crack a joke. Wayne understood that life was too short to take too seriously, and he approached each day with a grin or a wisecrack.

His love for motors didn't end with cars. If it could race, rumble, or roar, Wayne was all over it. Motorcycles, ATVs, dirt bikes, and snowmobiles – When he wasn't riding or repairing, he could be found kicked back, relishing in the adventures of 'Gunsmoke,' chuckling at the old-timey antics from the comfort of his favorite chair. In his later years, that chair and those reruns were his slice of heaven on earth.

Wayne's greatest legacy, however, is not found in the engines he fixed or the trails he blazed but in the family he cherished. He was a devoted father to Michael (Elizabeth) Kirk, Nicole (Troy) Foster, Stephanie (Tarah) Kirk, and Katie Kirk (his last and final "babygirl"). He touched the lives of many of his children's friends as an "extra dad" as well. He was the kind of dad who taught his kids that life's bumps and dents are just part of the ride, he was always there when ya called needing saving, rather it be a flat tire, broke down on the side of the road or if ya need a bail bond paid, however he'd of told ya "i only got 12 dollars!" And oh, how he adored his 13 wonderful grandchildren, each of whom inherited a bit of their granddad's mischievous twinkle and adrenaline.

He was also a beloved brother to Connie Kirk, Debbie Elliot, and Diana Green. As siblings, they shared a great deal of memories, laughter, and the occasional wrench when things needed fixing. His sisters knew that Wayne was steadfast in his love for them and just a call away if needed.

Wayne's life was a testament to joy, resilience, stubbornness and the power of laughter. He never missed an opportunity to share a joke or lighten a mood, and his presence was a reminder that even in the darkest of times, a little humor could shed a lot of light. As actor and comedian Robin Williams once said, "You're only given a little spark of madness. You mustn't lose it." Wayne surely kept his spark alight, illuminating the lives of all who knew him.

So here's to Wayne Allen Kirk, a man who lived, laughed, and loved with all his might. His story doesn't end here; it's simply shifted to a place where the roads are endless, the engines never cool, and the laughter echoes on. Ride on, Wayne, ride on till we meet again.

A Celebration of Wayne's life will be announced at a later date. Please share your stories and memories of Wayne at the "Share a Memory" section above.

Arrangements entrusted to Nelsons Cremation & Funeral Services, 135 N. Center Avenue, PO Box 1548, Gaylord, Michigan. www.CarebyNelsons.com