Francis J. Kirk

Boonville- Francis J. Kirk, 95, a former resident of State Rt. 46, and more recently of Kortenaer Village, Boonville, passed away on Thursday, October 11, 2012, while surrounded by his loving family at Sunset Nursing & Rehabilitation Center, Boonville. He was born on May 31, 1917, at the Kirk family homestead farm on the Fish Creek Road, near Constableville, a son of Nicholas and Jennie Hoffert Kirk. Francis attended Byrons Corners Rural School, completing his education at Constableville Central School; afterwards for several years he worked on the family farm. On November 28, 1942, Francis was united in marriage with Anna G. Leffingwell, at St. Mary's Church, Constableville. After that the couple settled on the Kirk homestead farm, where they lived until the early 1950's when the couple purchased a farm on Rt. 12D near Boonville. For a time the Kirks operated a roller skating rink and dance hall at that farm, later converting the barn into an active dairy farm. In the 1950's Mr. Kirk was also employed as a sawyer at Boonville Furniture Co. and in the later 1950's he was employed for a builders union in the construction of Rome State School and the Fish Creek Dam, now known as Boyd's Dam, located near Swancott's Mill, in the Town of Lewis. In 1960 Mr. Kirk founded F.J. Kirk & Sons Construction Co., a company that was involved in the construction of many homes, farm and commercial buildings throughout northern Oneida and Lewis Counties. He constructed the buildings that housed the new Hills Department Store and The Pub, in Downtown Boonville, after Hills Department Store and the Village Tavern, were destroyed in a fire in November, 1969. In 1977, Francis and his wife, Anna, founded and built the Red Carpet Skate way, located on North Post St. in Boonville, which was the largest and finest roller skating rink of its kind in upstate New York. They operated the skating rink until 1981. Mrs. Kirk died on December 4, 1988. Mr. Kirk retired from the construction business in January 1978; later he operated a small farm and raised and sold many vegetables from his home on Rt. 46. After he retired, the construction business was passed to his son, Ronald, continuing under his ownership at this time, and Francis purchased land on the Fish Creek Road, where he constructed a camp and operated a logging and fire wood business. Francis was a member of St. Joseph's Church, Boonville, and a former member of Boonville Lodge of Elks # 2158, where he served as Chaplin. He greatly loved his eight children and is survived by four daughters and three sons in law, Patricia and Nelson Bowen, Nancy and Thomas Krywosa, Jeannie Kirk and long time companion, Larry Kent and Judy and James Denslow, all of Boonville; four sons and daughters in law, Thomas (Laura), NC, Wayne (Darlene), Ronald (Kari) and Leonard (Deborah), all of Boonville; seventeen grandchildren, seven great grandchildren and two great great grandchildren. The last of a family of seven brothers and sisters, Mr. Kirk was predeceased by four sisters, Florence Kirk, Alyce Witten, Rita Ingersoll and Lucinda Blum and three brothers, Edwin, Erwin, and Lawrence. His Funeral will be Monday at 9:00 A.M. at Trainor Funeral Home, Inc. 143 Schuyler St. Boonville, and at 10:00 A.M. at St. Joseph's Church, Boonville, where Rev. Sean Patrick O'Brien, pastor will celebrate a Mass of Christian Burial. Interment will follow at St. Joseph's Cemetery, Boonville. Calling hours are Sunday 4-8 P.M. at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Christ Our Hope at St. Joseph's Church Building Fund @ 108 Charles St. Boonville, NY 13309, or to Boonville Fire Co. Ambulance Fund PO Box 64, Boonville, NY 13309.