James Thomas Kirk

James Thomas Kirk from Canal Winchester, OH, born in Wilmington, North Carolina, June of 1949, journeyed into eternity at the age of 73, on Monday, March 20, 2023 from complications with cancer.

James was predeceased by parents, Reverend James Kirk, and adoptive parents, Fred and Mary Kan; son, Mark, and grandson, Samuel. He is survived by wife, Janet Sue Kirk, her children, Danielle Bentley and Tony (Melissa) Frabott, and grandchildren, Hannah, Haley, Coby, Gianna and Silas, and great grandchild, Olivia; and previous wife, Carolyn Ann Kirk and his children, James Kirk, Annette (AJ) Bittner, Lisa Ombito and Matt Kirk, and grandchildren, LeShae, Sinai, Selah, Amisa, Sasha, Amina, Sonja, and great grandbaby, Maexea.

James was in the military as an army man and had no problem dressing dapper whether grilling on the patio or going out to a restaurant. James was a family man with experience with blended family and able to love as he remembered being loved as an adopted son to his adoptive mother after his biological father died.

He loved to go from roller skating, to having dinner with family, sneak in a board game and end with a movie...he just loved to hang out with family. Family could feel at times he was hard but no doubt they knew they were loved.

James had a warm gift for serving and encouraging others as a family member, and through his work as a bus driver for COTA and friendships developed at the local roller rink in Columbus. He took time to teach others what he knew or gave an ear as friends and strangers shared a part of their life journey with him. He was the kind of guy who would stop to encourage anyone along as they needed.

He was a kind man and a SKATING man. One of his friends commented that James told him, "I love you brother", which left such an impact on him, especially since men don't usually tell other men that. James loved with the God kind of love. James was humorous, had an amazing smile that lit up the world, and could skate like no other...anyone reading this knows it is true! His skating friends will miss him, some of whom he has skated with for decades; like one of his long time friends who shared stories on their shenanigans during their younger years.

The most important part of James' life was God. He had a love for Scripture and enjoyed talking about God in any and every conversation. His friends commented often as they visited him in the hospital how they got to share conversations with Dad about God. Even as he battled cancer he trusted God. He developed a friendship with a pastor from MN who said, "Be encouraged by the knowledge he came to know Christ." Another friend said, "He is ready."

His favorite bible verse is Philippians 4:6 "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." His wife Janet commented, "We would remind each other often, 'do not be anxious.'" While in the hospital James requested his friend to read Psalm 25.

James will be greatly missed by many folks around town, at COTA, the skating crew and family and friends. In retirement, James was a board member of a new Minnesota-based, non-profit organization called The ARTS Life.