Manford Gordon Kirchoff

Manford G. Kirchoff Obituary Manford Gordon Kirchoff passed away peacefully at Holton Manor in Elkhorn, Wisconsin, on August 20th, 2014. He was 82. Manny was born on April 8th, 1932 in Horicon, Wisconsin to Herman and Lulu (Anderson) Kirchoff. He served in the US Navy in the Korean War and returned to marry Jeannette "Jan" VanderPal on October 24th, 1953, in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. He graduated from Rockford College with help from the GI Bill and was an accountant and insurance agent, as well as the founder, builder, and owner of Kirchoff's Florist and Greenhouses in Lake Geneva and Elkhorn for over 30 years with his wife. A long-time resident of Lake Geneva, he was a proud 50 year+ member of the Frank Kresen American Legion Post 24 and was honored to serve a term as post commander. He also served his community as a Badger High School board member in the 1970s. Manford was an avid and accomplished athlete in many recreational sports, including fishing, hunting, horseshoes, and bowling (2004 State Senior Bowling Champion). But his favorite sport by far was golf, which he enjoyed playing (and usually winning) for over 70 years, particularly at Hillmoor Country Club, with uncommon grace and ability. He also loved traveling (his favorite trips were to the Smithsonian Institute), listening to music (from Leonard Bernstein to Ann Murray), woodworking, reading the news, playing cards, telling stories, and staying connected to family and friends. He lived his life motto, "Love your fellow Americans," every day. He is survived by his wife, Jan, daughters Nancy (Joe) Kieraldo of Madison, Wisconsin, Mary Kirchoff (Mark Hamilton) of Bellevue, Washington and son, Mark, of Ohio; seven grandchildren: Anthony Kieraldo, Hudson, New York, Michael Kieraldo, Madison, Wisconsin, Alexander Winter and Hayden Winter, Bellevue, Washington, Courtney (Daniel) Osborne, Caitlin Kirchoff, Cincinnati, Ohio, and McKenzie Kirchoff, Milford, Ohio; one great granddaughter, Louise Kieraldo, Hudson, New York, and other relatives and boundless treasured friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, sister Margaret, and brothers Les, Calvin, and Kenneth "Shorty" Kirchoff. The family would like to extend special thanks to friends Joyce Bouhl, Allan and MaryAnn Gaetzman, Ed Jansen, Hank Sibbing, and Kathy and Mike Wisniewski, among many others, as well as to the Aurora Health Care and Vince Lombardi Cancer Clinic teams, and the Holton Manor staff for the care and kindness offered these past months. Funeral services will be held at Steinke Funeral Home in Lake Geneva on Tuesday, September 2nd, with visitation at 11 a.m. and a life celebration service at noon, where friends are invited to contribute their favorite stories. Interment will follow at 2 p.m. at the Southern Wisconsin Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Union Grove. A reception will be held at the Frank Kresen American Legion Post 24 in Lake Geneva following the interment. The Manford G. Kirchoff Scholarship for Academic and Athletic Achievement has been established through the American Legion. The family requests memorials be made to this fund in lieu of flowers to honor Manford's life and community service by supporting Lake Geneva's high school seniors for years to come. Contributions may be mailed to Frank Kresen Post 24, Box 24, Lake Geneva, Wisconsin 53147. Visitation Tuesday, September 2nd, 2014 11:00am - 12:00pmService Information Tuesday, September 2nd, 2014 12:00pm