Walter Kirsch, 82, Dickinson, died Thursday, February 26, 2004, at St. Joseph?s Hospital and Health Center, Dickinson. Funeral services will be 10 a. m. Monday, March 1, 2004 at Taylor Lutheran Church, Taylor, with the Reverend Gary Wood, officiating. Interment will be in Pioneer Lutheran (Enger) Cemetery, south of Gladstone. Military rites will be provided by Joseph E. Lautz VFW Post #7438. Visitation will be noon to 9 p. m. Sunday at Price-Murphy Funeral Home, Dickinson. Visitation will continue Monday at the church one hour prior to the service. Walter Francis Kirsch was born on July 13, 1921, in Stark County, North Dakota to Peter and Elsie (Jopp) Kirsch. Walter resided in Gladstone while attending school and graduated in 1941. On September 25, 1942 he was inducted into the U. S. Army, being assigned to the 96th Infantry Division. On April 7, 1945, Walter was wounded in action and was honorably discharged on December 9, 1945. He was awarded the Purple Heart, the Philippine Liberation Medal with two bronze service stars, the Asiatic-Pacific Service Medal with three bronze service stars, the American Theatre Service Medal, the Combat Infantrymans Badge, the Good Conduct Medal, and the Victory Medal World War II. Walter married Arilene Enger on July 18, 1953. They farmed and ranched in the Gladstone community until moving to Dickinson in 1977. He enjoyed fishing, watching baseball and carpentry work. Walter Kirsch is survived by: his wife: Arilene, Dickinson; two daughters, Pamela Jean (Joe) Kirsch-Dodd, Dickinson, Lori Ann Kirsch, Grand Forks, ND; one son, James Dean Kirsch, Fargo, ND; one sister, Marjorie Hancock, Salt Lake City, UT; one brother, Donald (Pauline) Kirsch, Dickinson, nieces and nephews, Judy and Rodney Kirsch, Patricia McKinley and John Herold and several great nieces and great nephews. He was preceded in death by: his parents; one brother, Andrew; one sister, Eleanor Herold; two brothers-in-law, Frank Herold and Verd Hancock.
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Burial Date: March 1, 2004
Funeral Home Dickinson, ND
Funeral Service: Monday, Taylor Lutheran Church, Taylo