Keith D. Kirkdorfer / 1948-2008

Published 2:42 pm Tuesday, May 13, 2008

By Staff
Keith D. Kirkdorfer, 59, of North Shore Drive, Edwardsburg, died suddenly on Friday, May 9, in his home.
A funeral service will be held on Wednesday, May 14, at 11 a.m. in his shop at Kirkdorfer Farms, 67722 N. Shore Drive, Edwardsburg. Officiating will be the Rev. Ray Fulbright with the First Presbyterian Church, Niles.
Interment will be in Reames &Norton Cemetery, Cassopolis.
The family will receive friends today, Tuesday, May 13, from 4 to 8 p.m. in his shop at his farm.
He was born on May 28, 1948, in Three Rivers, the son of Duane P. and Gearl Dean (Trussell) Kirkdorfer and was a lifetime resident.
On Dec. 14, 1996, in South Bend, Ind., he married the former Cynthia R. Miller, who survives.
Surviving family include two daughters, Michelle Jensen of Edwardsburg and Laura Cook of Mishawaka, Ind.; two step-children, Cameron (Karla) Mendenhall and Brooke (Scott) Krupp, all of Edwardsburg; seven grandchildren, Nathan Krupp, Cole Krupp, Drew Jones, Isaiah Cook, Micah Cook, Elijah Cook and Elaine Cook; a sister, Linda (Chuck) Starkweather of Temple, Texas; his parents, Duane P. and Gearl Dean Kirkdorfer of Edwardsburg.
Additional survivors include a nephew, C. T. (Julie) Starkweather of Conroe, Texas; an aunt, Judith (Earl) Gladbach of Kansas City, Mo.; his mother and father-in-law, Ted and Joyce Miller of Niles; a sister-in-law, Pam (Elgon) Ellis of Brimley and her children, Aaron Asmus, Aarick Asmus and Landon Asmus; a brother-in-law, Joe (Lily) Miller of Arlington, Texas and his three children.
He was the owner and operator of Kirkdorfer Farms, Edwardsburg. He stared farming at the age of seven. He had worked at Miles Laboratories in Elkhart, Ind. and White Farm Equipment from 1972-1983.
He was a member of Michigan Bio-Diesel in Bangor and was on the board of managers with Liberty Renewable Fuels in Ithaca.
He served on the Jefferson Township Board for four years and the Jefferson Township planning commission for seven years.
He also served on the Edwardsburg Fire Department board for four years and was a former member of the fire department.
Kirkdorfer was a treasurer with the Cass County Tractor Pullers Association and he built a track for the tractor pulls for the Cass County Fair.
He and his workers also built the stage at the fairgrounds and was on the sponsorship committee for the fair.
He was a candidate for Cass County Commissioner in 2002.
He served on the HOC Farmland Preservation Committee, was a member of the Cass County Farm Bureau Board, was a lifetime member of 4-H and the 5-H Horse Clubs.
He was the top soy bean producer in the State of Michigan in 2006 and 2007 and in 2007, was the largest seed corn grower for Pioneer Seeds at their Plymount, Ind. plant.
He was instrumental in helping to pass the Cass County Farmland Preservation ordinance in 2007.
He was also a member of the 110 bushel soy bean club and 300 bushel corn club.
Memorials may be made to the Cass County Fair Association.
Arrangements are by Connelly Funeral Home, Cassopolis.