William Joseph Kirschten

William (Bill) Joseph Kirschten
January 3, 1945 - May 28, 2025
Bill Kirschten, Chicago, Illinois born and raised, passed away at 80 years of age the afternoon of May 28, 2025 at Ascension Sacred Heart Hospital on the Emerald Coast, Miramar Beach, Florida. His passing was due to the many health issues over an extended time from the exposure to Agent Orange while serving his country in Vietnam. He resided in Destin, Florida with his wife, Fran.
Bill was preceded in death by his parents, Wilfred and Catherine; sister, Dolores Leuthner; brother, James (Jim) Kirschten; and brothers-in-law, Jim McMullin, Charles McMullin and Bob McMullin.
He is survived by his wife, Frances (Fran) McMullin Kirschten; and his children, Jennifer (Jenni) Kirschten and Michael Kirschten. He was an extremely proud grandfather to Mariah, Joey and Victoria Kirschten. He is also survived by brother-in-law, Ed Leuthner and sisters-in-law, Sue Kirschten, Janeann McMullin and Carol McMullin. He was a loving uncle to many nieces and nephews and special companion to Bugsy, Bear and Sky.
Bill was proud to serve his country. He enlisted in the United States Army in 1967, where he served in the 4th Infantry Division, was an MP and earned the rank of Sergeant. He is survived by one last brother in arms, last man standing, Gary Seabright.
Bill's careers started in law enforcement when he served in Chicago, Illinois as a police officer. A part time job as a security guard at a bank led him to his career in the mortgage industry with Northwest Federal/Talman Home Federal. Upon moving to Destin, he worked part time at Home Depot.
Bill and Fran traveled extensively to places such as South America, Panama Canal, South Pacific, Hawaii, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, the Caribbean, the Baltic region, the Mediterranean and their very favorite, Alaska. They made many lifelong friends on those journeys.
Family, above all, was the most important to Bill. He bragged to anyone who would listen about watching his grandchildren play softball, soccer, track and karate.
"His greatest legacy wasn't just the memories, it was the love. A love that never left, but became part of who we are. Proof that his presence still echoes in everything we do."
A visitation will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, June 19, 2025 with a service following at 3:00 p.m. at Davis Watkins Funeral Home, 113 Racetrack Road, Northeast, Fort Walton Beach, Florida. Interment will take place on Friday, June 20, 2025 at Barrancas National Cemetery, Pensacola, Florida for family members only.
The family requests there be no flowers. Please make a donation in Bill's name to Tunnel to Towers at t2t.org or to Wounded Warriors at support.woundedwarriorproject.org
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