Larry Ray Birkholz Jr
March 4, 1970 — July 1, 2014
Larry R. Birkholz, Jr.
Larry Ray Birkholz Jr., of Eureka, died on July 1, 2014 in rural Eureka at the age of 44.
Larry was born 4 March 1970 in New Milford, Connecticut. After his father was killed in a plane crash in Valley View, Texas, I had gone to my parents home to await his birth. His father and I had our blood work done for our marriage license at this hospital (1967) and although it wasn’t the closest to my parents’ home, I chose it for his birthplace. His father Larry Ray Birkholz, his paternal grandparents were Everett and Pauline Birkholz of Eureka. His maternal grandparents were Gaetano “Tom” and Gladys Florio of Davenport, Ny.
Larry spent the first 4 years growing up in Denton, Texas. I joined the US Army when he was 4 and he became an “Army Brat” living at Fort Rucker, Al., Fort Eustis Va., Fort Campbell, Ky., and Fort Hood, Texas. At age 9 we moved to Hemsbach, Germany and were there for 2 years. We came back to the states again to Fort Campbell, Ky and then to Schofield Barracks, Hi. He eventually moved to Eureka to complete his senior year of high school living with his grandparents and graduating from Eureka High School in 1989. He attended K State in Manhattan completing work there at Butler Community College and graduating from Highland College.
He married Kelly Kirkpatrick in Las Vegas on October 28, 2000 with dearest friend Dave Samsel as his best man. They settled in Manhattan prior to later moving to the Birkholz farm north of Eureka. He established Birkholz Construction while in Manhattan and moved it to Eureka.
He was exceedingly proud, supportive father of daughters Chandler Brooke and Reese Beverly Birkholz.
Larry was an avid outdoorsman who enjoyed hunting and fishing, playing golf and, in general, having a good time while working and relaxing.
He is survived by his former wife, Kelly Birkholz; daughters Chandler and Reese Birkholz; step-daughter, Leslie Kirkpatrick, mother and step-father Beverly and Mike Noland; brother Damon Noland; sister Deadra Keener and her family; Uncle Tommy Florio, Uncle Ron Holland, several nieces and nephews and more people than I can count whose lives he affected and who loved him.
Funeral services were held at 3:00 P.M., Sunday, July 6, 2014 at the First United Methodist Church with Reverend Kenneth Baker officiating. Interment followed at Greenwood Cemetery.
A memorial has been established in his name to the Eureka Junior/Senior High School Athletic Program and left in care of the funeral home at P.O. Box 595, Eureka, Kansas 67045.
Larry Ray Birkholz Jr., of Eureka, died on July 1, 2014 in rural Eureka at the age of 44.
Larry was born 4 March 1970 in New Milford, Connecticut. After his father was killed in a plane crash in Valley View, Texas, I had gone to my parents home to await his birth. His father and I had our blood work done for our marriage license at this hospital (1967) and although it wasn’t the closest to my parents’ home, I chose it for his birthplace. His father Larry Ray Birkholz, his paternal grandparents were Everett and Pauline Birkholz of Eureka. His maternal grandparents were Gaetano “Tom” and Gladys Florio of Davenport, Ny.
Larry spent the first 4 years growing up in Denton, Texas. I joined the US Army when he was 4 and he became an “Army Brat” living at Fort Rucker, Al., Fort Eustis Va., Fort Campbell, Ky., and Fort Hood, Texas. At age 9 we moved to Hemsbach, Germany and were there for 2 years. We came back to the states again to Fort Campbell, Ky and then to Schofield Barracks, Hi. He eventually moved to Eureka to complete his senior year of high school living with his grandparents and graduating from Eureka High School in 1989. He attended K State in Manhattan completing work there at Butler Community College and graduating from Highland College.
He married Kelly Kirkpatrick in Las Vegas on October 28, 2000 with dearest friend Dave Samsel as his best man. They settled in Manhattan prior to later moving to the Birkholz farm north of Eureka. He established Birkholz Construction while in Manhattan and moved it to Eureka.
He was exceedingly proud, supportive father of daughters Chandler Brooke and Reese Beverly Birkholz.
Larry was an avid outdoorsman who enjoyed hunting and fishing, playing golf and, in general, having a good time while working and relaxing.
He is survived by his former wife, Kelly Birkholz; daughters Chandler and Reese Birkholz; step-daughter, Leslie Kirkpatrick, mother and step-father Beverly and Mike Noland; brother Damon Noland; sister Deadra Keener and her family; Uncle Tommy Florio, Uncle Ron Holland, several nieces and nephews and more people than I can count whose lives he affected and who loved him.
Funeral services were held at 3:00 P.M., Sunday, July 6, 2014 at the First United Methodist Church with Reverend Kenneth Baker officiating. Interment followed at Greenwood Cemetery.
A memorial has been established in his name to the Eureka Junior/Senior High School Athletic Program and left in care of the funeral home at P.O. Box 595, Eureka, Kansas 67045.
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