November 18, 1952 – October 23, 2023
Gerald Wayne “Butch” Kirby, 70, passed away unexpectedly at his home in Ekin, Ind., on Monday afternoon, October 23, 2023. Born November 18, 1952, in Tipton, Ind., he was the son of the late Donald Paul Kirby and Betty Jane (Mossburg) Kirby-Egler.
He was a 1971 graduate of Sheridan High School and had wonderful memories from his years in their FFA program.
There was no one quite like Butch Kirby. A lifetime farmer and the driving force behind Kirby Farms, Inc., Butch lived his life doing what he loved. Farming was in his blood. He loved getting out in the fields, but the pride and joy of his operation was his herd of buffalo. Raising them was definitely a labor of love, and seeing people stopping alongside the road to watch them out in the pasture never got old.
Farming wasn’t his only love. A Harley man through and through, there was never a bad time to go for a ride. Butch always looked forward to his trips out to Sturgis and never missed a chance to go on a benefit ride. He was a charter member of the Cicero American Legion Riders, as well as a member of the Cicero Post 341 Sons of the American Legion and Legion Auxiliary. He enjoyed following NASCAR and loved when a race was close enough for him to get to the track. Watching on TV was fun, but being right there in the middle of things was how he preferred it.
Butch was a gentle giant who never met a stranger. He was always willing to help those in need and would gladly give anybody the shirt off his back (although the sleeves would probably have been torn off). A jokester at heart, Butch could find the humor in just about any situation, and more than likely, a good story or two to go along with it.
Family was everything to Butch, and if you were in his circle, you were family, too. He did things his way, and on his terms, and brought as many people as he could along for the ride.
Butch is survived by his daughters, Brooke Amber Kirby of Arcadia and Gwynne Nicole Kirby of Noblesville; his grandson, Zachary Alon Wayne Kirby; nieces, Mindi Cheek (Travis) of Frankfort and Michelle Ramsey (Brett) of Reynolds; nephew, Brant West (Paige) of Lebanon; and his brother-in-law, Phillip R. West of Lebanon.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Donald Paul Kirby and Betty Jane (Mossburg) Kirby-Egler; brother, Ronald Allen Kirby; and his sister, Juanita West.
Services will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, November 3, 2023, at Kercheval Funeral Home, 306 E. 10th St., Sheridan. Burial will follow at Crown View Cemetery in Sheridan. Pastor Jody Brown will be officiating. Visitation will take place from 4 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, November 2, 2023, at Kercheval Funeral Home.
Condolences: kerchevalfuneralhome.com