James "Phil" Kirby

March 9, 1929 - February 4, 2021

BATTLE CREEK -- Memorial service for James “Phil” Kirby, 91, of Battle Creek, Nebraska, will be held at 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, February 9, at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Battle Creek. Father Pat McLaughlin will officiate the service. Burial will be a private family inurnment at Riverside National Cemetery at a later date. Services will be streamed live on Stonacek Funeral Chapel Facebook page. Phil passed away at his residence in Battle Creek on February 4, 2021. Stonacek Funeral Chapel in Norfolk is in charge of the arrangements. Phil was born on March 29, 1929, in Hadar, Nebraska, Phil was the tenth of twelve children of Raymond and Margaret (Risse) Kirby. He graduated from Battle Creek High School and joined the U.S. Air Force, where he proudly served our country in the Korean War and achieved the rank of Staff Sergeant. Following his honorable discharge from the Air Force, Phil attended Iowa State University, where he earned a Master’s of Science Degree in electrical engineering. On March 29, 1952, Phil married Patricia Charlotte Timpe at St. Leonard’s Catholic Church in Madison, NE. The family made their home in Southern California, where they raised 11 children: daughters Annette, Bonnie, Alysia, and Marie, and sons Dan, Tony, Larry, Roger, Tim, Ron, and Sean. In Southern California, Phil accepted a position as an engineer with Douglas Aircraft, where he began a challenging engineering career working on projects spanning from advanced military weapons systems to communications systems used in the Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo space programs, working for McDonnell Douglas and later, Hughes Aircraft. As space program activity began to decline, Phil transitioned into the private sector and started Kirby’s Coaches, which became one of the largest and most successful recreational vehicle businesses in Southern California at that time. Phil and Pat ran the company until their retirement in 1997. Phil was preceded in death by his parents, Raymond and Margaret, wife, Pat, siblings William, Leo, Raymond (“Bud”), Francis (“Frank”), Jerry, Vince, Lucille Kuchar, Margaret Leise, Rosalie “Rosie” Leise, Ellen Derry, two grandchildren Tommy Spencer, and John Kirby. He leaves to cherish his memory: his children Dan Kirby (Sherri) of Battle Creek, Nebraska, Annette (Terry) Janke of St. Edward, Nebraska, Tony Kirby of Sunny Valley, Oregon, Bonnie Dawson (Gary) of Island Park, Idaho, Larry Kirby (Kim) of Las Vegas, Nevada, Roger Kirby (Mary) of San Climente, California, Alysia Christensen of Knoxville, Tennessee, Tim Kirby (Ofelia) of Sylmar, California, Ron Kirby of Sun City, California, Marie Tempton (Willie) of Houston, Texas, Sean Kirby of Anaheim, California, sister Betty Abler (Jerry) of Wahoo, Nebraska, 31 grandchildren, and 20 great grandchildren. Phil enjoyed golfing and betting, and could fix anything. He loved the outdoors and nature. He had hit two holes in one while golfing. Condolences may be expressed to the family on-line at www.stonacekfuneralchapel.com.