Raymond J. Kirsch, (Flag Emblem) of Antigo, died Friday, March 18, 2011 at Langlade Hospital. He was 91 years old. He was born on January 6, 1920 in Antigo, a son of Charles and Kathryn (Fleischman) Kirsch. He married Bernice Beck on June 14, 1947 at Holy Family Catholic Church, Mattoon. She preceded him in death on February 25, 2005.
He attended St. John Parochial School and graduated from Antigo High School with the class of 1938. He attended the University of Wisconsin Extension in Antigo for a year then Oshkosh State Teachers College for two years. While at Oshkosh he wrote a sports column for the Oshkosh Titan newspaper called Ray's Way.
He served in the United States Army Air Corps from 1942-1946 having been stationed in India.
Mr. Kirsch returned to Antigo after service and began a long career as a firefighter for the City of Antigo. He was the last surviving charter member of the Antigo Fire Department Union Local 1000. He retired from the city in 1976 and worked as study hall supervisor for the Antigo High School for eleven years. He was a board member and served as secretary of the Antigo FSCC Employees Credit Union.
As a young man Mr. Kirsch played baseball for the Antigo Candies, Deerbrook in the County Baseball League and played softball for Blaha's Tavern. He later managed the Deerbrook team, the Antigo Cardinals and served as Wisconsin State Baseball League regional director. He was instrumental in starting Little League baseball in Antigo in 1957.
He enjoyed attending local baseball games and was looking forward to the 2011 season.
He was a member of St. John Catholic Church, the Holy Name Society and volunteered as a communion distributor and on the church cleaning crew. He also belonged to the Msgr. Conrad Sailie Knights of Columbus Council 1002, Antigo, the Catholic Order of Foresters, and the Leland-Tollefson Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2653, Antigo.
He enjoyed listening to the Milwaukee Brewers baseball games, gardening, bird watching, and volunteering at Eastview Medical and Rehabilitation Center. His favorite pastime was watching his children and grandchildren participate in sporting events and other activities.
Survivors include three daughters Barbara (James) Boyle, Menasha, Susan (Greg) Schofield, Merrill, Julie (John) Seis, Antigo; three sons Charles Kirsch, Antigo, David Kirsch and special friend Leah Schroepfer, Antigo, Steven (Jamie) Kirsch, Antigo; 14 grandchildren Kari (Michael) Quist, Chris Kirsch, Katie Kirsch, Mindi (Dustin) Dunaway, Graig (Becky) Boyle, Sara (Aaron) Hoffman, Amy (Eric) Abraham, Thomas Schofield and special friend April Witman; Kelsey and Alison Boldig, Britany, Blake, Hunter and Austin "AJ" Kirsch; nine great-grandchildren Seriena, Kyla and Hope Dunaway, Drew, Max and Lucas Hoffman, Grace and Lillian Boyle, Jackson Abraham.
In addition to his wife and parents he was preceded in death by a grandchild, Matthew Boldig, a daughter-in-law, Mary Kirsch, two brothers, Walter and John Kirsch, three sisters, Margaret Radtke, Lillian Radtke and Rose Kay Brandow.
A funeral Mass will be held on Monday at 11:00 a.m. at St. John Catholic Church, with Rev. Jeremiah Worman officiating. Entombment will take place in Queen of Peace Cemetery where the Antigo veterans will conduct military graveside rites. Visitation will be 3:30-8 p.m. on Sunday at the Bradley Funeral Home and 9:30-10:30 a.m. on Monday at the funeral home. During the visitation Sunday a parish wake service will be held at 4 p.m., the Knights of Columbus will recite the rosary at 6 p.m. and the Antigo firefighters will stand honor guard from 6:30-7:30 p.m.
A memorial fund is being established for the All Saints Catholic School in Antigo.
"HE WAS A GOOD BALLPLAYER."
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Visitation
Antigo, WI 54409
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Antigo, Wisconsin 54409
Ray will truly be missed--I've carried through life some of the wonderful things he taught me as I began playing sports in and for Antigo--"never give up, play your best, have fun"(and, lets beat those guys)--my condolences to the family--he was one of a kind--Bob
We all very much miss Uncle Ray. Always a bright smile and a kind word for all. May God keep him safe with Aunt Bernice.
As a former member of Antigo Firefighters Local 1000 I would just like to thank Ray for having the foresight to join the IAFF and fight for the union for so many years. He will be sorely missed by all
He would always throw wiffleballs in the backyard for us, take us down to the park in the red wagon, he taught me the antigo fight song, his humming and one-liners, he loved sports baseball, football, basketball, it didn't matter what it was if we played it he would go and watch us compete. He loved to talk about us in our sports to other people. He was a wonderful grandfather and loved us all. His endless love of pictures and when the mantle in the family room ran out of space to put the pictures he started to tape them to the wall. The fridge is full also and the wall in the kitchen. He loved to show us off to others. And to top off the things that made him him, I would have to say that he loved his beer. Sitting home or out with people you could catch him most of the time with a beer in his hand sipping it slowly and having a good time! I love you grandpa and will miss you a lot but I know you are with Grandma, Mary, Lillian, Rose Kay,Margaret, Walter, Johnny, your parents and Matthew.
One of God's most faithful servants - a true inspiration and hero, he lived life the way it should be lived. Grandpa Ray will forever be loved and cherished by us all.
hitting wiffleballs over "the green monster," his constant humming :), birthday hi-balls on him, miller high life-the champagne of beers in hand, endless sporting events(sittin in his lawn chair:), always with that grin of his....you will be missed grandpa ray.
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