John David Pirkle, 49, of Bolivar died suddenly Saturday, Sept. 6, 2008, in Springfield.
He was born Oct. 5, 1958, the son of William Colfax Elijah Pirkle and Nola Gayle Gaston Pirkle in Los Alamos, N.M., where his father was a teacher at Los Alamos High School.
In 1961, the family moved to Rupert, Idaho, with all four boys in tow, Joe, Charles, John and Mark. There, they homesteaded a farm until 1966 when they moved to Bolivar. In 1968, John's dad died of a heart attack in the old Bolivar High School where he taught math.
In 1976, John graduated high school and attended Central Missouri State University in Warrensburg with childhood friend, Vance Thomas. Following the spring break in 1978, he met Donita Roberts. From their first date on March 25, 1978, John knew he had met the girl he wanted to marry. That dream came true July 2, 1980.
They began their newly wedded life in Stockton where John was a commissioned police officer for the city. In early 1981, they moved to Bolivar where John took a job for the city of Bolivar as a dispatcher. He then started EMT school in Springfield and became employed at Sac Osage Hospital in Osceola.
On Oct. 2, 1986, they were blessed with a girl named Sarah Donn and shortly thereafter moved to Buffalo where John then worked for St. John's Ambulance. In May 1990, William Colfax "Cole" was born and completed the family. They were able to move back to Bolivar in March 1991, where John then worked for CMH. In 1995, he began as a deputy with the Polk County Sheriff's office.
He continued in that career until April 2006, when he went to work as a security officer for Cox South in Springfield. Along with his law enforcement career, John volunteered as an instructor with the University of Missouri Fire and Rescue Unit. He was active with Polk County Relay for Life and earned his auctioneer's license in 2000 from the Missouri Auction School in St. Louis.
While raising their children, he was an active dad attending all the school functions and extracurricular activities. He was an avid Kansas City Chiefs fan and golfer. Special occasions with family were often spent playing cards and board games. He was looking forward to Sarah's wedding this Friday to his new son-in-law, Arlan Gingerich.
Donita and John celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary with a trip to Alaska. It proved to be a once-in-a-lifetime trip that will never be forgotten.
On Sept. 15, 2007, John suffered a heart attack while on duty at Cox South. He went to the emergency room on his own and was soon in surgery for a triple by-pass. Making a full recovery, he returned back to work and continued to live life to its fullest. That included his favorite Red Velvet
cake, watching football and doting on his wife.
Surviving John are his devoted wife, Donita; their children, Sarah, her fiance, Arlan, and son Cole, all of Bolivar; three brothers, Joe of Bolivar, Charles and wife Nancy of Overland Park, Kan., and Mark and wife Cassie of Bolivar; father-in law, Don Roberts of Bolivar; several nieces and nephews; and a host of family and friends. He will be greatly missed.
Services were Tuesday, Sept. 9, in Pitts Chapel with Chaplain Robin Storer and the Rev. Jerry Book officiating, and memories were shared by Joe Rushing and Mike Parson. Burial followed in the Payne Cemetery, Polk. Musical selections were "When I Get Where I'm Goin'," and "Go Rest High On That Mountain."
Pallbearers were Mike Campbell, Isaac McGinnis, Mike Parsons, Mike Sallee, Rick Scholten, Vance Thomas, Brent VanBebber, Brian Whalen and Kenny Witt. Friends and family may sign a guest book or send private condolences at www.greenlawnfuneralhome.com. In lieu of plants and flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the John Pirkle Memorial Fund c/o of the funeral home. Arrangements have been entrusted to Pitts Chapel of Greenlawn Funeral Homes, Bolivar.
He was born Oct. 5, 1958, the son of William Colfax Elijah Pirkle and Nola Gayle Gaston Pirkle in Los Alamos, N.M., where his father was a teacher at Los Alamos High School.
In 1961, the family moved to Rupert, Idaho, with all four boys in tow, Joe, Charles, John and Mark. There, they homesteaded a farm until 1966 when they moved to Bolivar. In 1968, John's dad died of a heart attack in the old Bolivar High School where he taught math.
In 1976, John graduated high school and attended Central Missouri State University in Warrensburg with childhood friend, Vance Thomas. Following the spring break in 1978, he met Donita Roberts. From their first date on March 25, 1978, John knew he had met the girl he wanted to marry. That dream came true July 2, 1980.
They began their newly wedded life in Stockton where John was a commissioned police officer for the city. In early 1981, they moved to Bolivar where John took a job for the city of Bolivar as a dispatcher. He then started EMT school in Springfield and became employed at Sac Osage Hospital in Osceola.
On Oct. 2, 1986, they were blessed with a girl named Sarah Donn and shortly thereafter moved to Buffalo where John then worked for St. John's Ambulance. In May 1990, William Colfax "Cole" was born and completed the family. They were able to move back to Bolivar in March 1991, where John then worked for CMH. In 1995, he began as a deputy with the Polk County Sheriff's office.
He continued in that career until April 2006, when he went to work as a security officer for Cox South in Springfield. Along with his law enforcement career, John volunteered as an instructor with the University of Missouri Fire and Rescue Unit. He was active with Polk County Relay for Life and earned his auctioneer's license in 2000 from the Missouri Auction School in St. Louis.
While raising their children, he was an active dad attending all the school functions and extracurricular activities. He was an avid Kansas City Chiefs fan and golfer. Special occasions with family were often spent playing cards and board games. He was looking forward to Sarah's wedding this Friday to his new son-in-law, Arlan Gingerich.
Donita and John celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary with a trip to Alaska. It proved to be a once-in-a-lifetime trip that will never be forgotten.
On Sept. 15, 2007, John suffered a heart attack while on duty at Cox South. He went to the emergency room on his own and was soon in surgery for a triple by-pass. Making a full recovery, he returned back to work and continued to live life to its fullest. That included his favorite Red Velvet
cake, watching football and doting on his wife.
Surviving John are his devoted wife, Donita; their children, Sarah, her fiance, Arlan, and son Cole, all of Bolivar; three brothers, Joe of Bolivar, Charles and wife Nancy of Overland Park, Kan., and Mark and wife Cassie of Bolivar; father-in law, Don Roberts of Bolivar; several nieces and nephews; and a host of family and friends. He will be greatly missed.
Services were Tuesday, Sept. 9, in Pitts Chapel with Chaplain Robin Storer and the Rev. Jerry Book officiating, and memories were shared by Joe Rushing and Mike Parson. Burial followed in the Payne Cemetery, Polk. Musical selections were "When I Get Where I'm Goin'," and "Go Rest High On That Mountain."
Pallbearers were Mike Campbell, Isaac McGinnis, Mike Parsons, Mike Sallee, Rick Scholten, Vance Thomas, Brent VanBebber, Brian Whalen and Kenny Witt. Friends and family may sign a guest book or send private condolences at www.greenlawnfuneralhome.com. In lieu of plants and flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the John Pirkle Memorial Fund c/o of the funeral home. Arrangements have been entrusted to Pitts Chapel of Greenlawn Funeral Homes, Bolivar.
John David Pirkle, 49, of Bolivar died suddenly Saturday, Sept. 6, 2008, in Springfield.
He was born Oct. 5, 1958, the son of William Colfax Elijah Pirkle and Nola Gayle Gaston Pirkle in Los Alamos, N.M., where his father was a teacher at Los Alamos High School.
In 1961, the family moved to Rupert, Idaho, with all four boys in tow, Joe, Charles, John and Mark. There, they homesteaded a farm until 1966 when they moved to Bolivar. In 1968, John's dad died of a heart attack in the old Bolivar High School where he taught math.
In 1976, John graduated high school and attended Central Missouri State University in Warrensburg with childhood friend, Vance Thomas. Following the spring break in 1978, he met Donita Roberts. From their first date on March 25, 1978, John knew he had met the girl he wanted to marry. That dream came true July 2, 1980.
They began their newly wedded life in Stockton where John was a commissioned police officer for the city. In early 1981, they moved to Bolivar where John took a job for the city of Bolivar as a dispatcher. He then started EMT school in Springfield and became employed at Sac Osage Hospital in Osceola.
On Oct. 2, 1986, they were blessed with a girl named Sarah Donn and shortly thereafter moved to Buffalo where John then worked for St. John's Ambulance. In May 1990, William Colfax "Cole" was born and completed the family. They were able to move back to Bolivar in March 1991, where John then worked for CMH. In 1995, he began as a deputy with the Polk County Sheriff's office.
He continued in that career until April 2006, when he went to work as a security officer for Cox South in Springfield. Along with his law enforcement career, John volunteered as an instructor with the University of Missouri Fire and Rescue Unit. He was active with Polk County Relay for Life and earned his auctioneer's license in 2000 from the Missouri Auction School in St. Louis.
While raising their children, he was an active dad attending all the school functions and extracurricular activities. He was an avid Kansas City Chiefs fan and golfer. Special occasions with family were often spent playing cards and board games. He was looking forward to Sarah's wedding this Friday to his new son-in-law, Arlan Gingerich.
Donita and John celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary with a trip to Alaska. It proved to be a once-in-a-lifetime trip that will never be forgotten.
On Sept. 15, 2007, John suffered a heart attack while on duty at Cox South. He went to the emergency room on his own and was soon in surgery for a triple by-pass. Making a full recovery, he returned back to work and continued to live life to its fullest. That included his favorite Red Velvet
cake, watching football and doting on his wife.
Surviving John are his devoted wife, Donita; their children, Sarah, her fiance, Arlan, and son Cole, all of Bolivar; three brothers, Joe of Bolivar, Charles and wife Nancy of Overland Park, Kan., and Mark and wife Cassie of Bolivar; father-in law, Don Roberts of Bolivar; several nieces and nephews; and a host of family and friends. He will be greatly missed.
Services were Tuesday, Sept. 9, in Pitts Chapel with Chaplain Robin Storer and the Rev. Jerry Book officiating, and memories were shared by Joe Rushing and Mike Parson. Burial followed in the Payne Cemetery, Polk. Musical selections were "When I Get Where I'm Goin'," and "Go Rest High On That Mountain."
Pallbearers were Mike Campbell, Isaac McGinnis, Mike Parsons, Mike Sallee, Rick Scholten, Vance Thomas, Brent VanBebber, Brian Whalen and Kenny Witt. Friends and family may sign a guest book or send private condolences at www.greenlawnfuneralhome.com. In lieu of plants and flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the John Pirkle Memorial Fund c/o of the funeral home. Arrangements have been entrusted to Pitts Chapel of Greenlawn Funeral Homes, Bolivar.
He was born Oct. 5, 1958, the son of William Colfax Elijah Pirkle and Nola Gayle Gaston Pirkle in Los Alamos, N.M., where his father was a teacher at Los Alamos High School.
In 1961, the family moved to Rupert, Idaho, with all four boys in tow, Joe, Charles, John and Mark. There, they homesteaded a farm until 1966 when they moved to Bolivar. In 1968, John's dad died of a heart attack in the old Bolivar High School where he taught math.
In 1976, John graduated high school and attended Central Missouri State University in Warrensburg with childhood friend, Vance Thomas. Following the spring break in 1978, he met Donita Roberts. From their first date on March 25, 1978, John knew he had met the girl he wanted to marry. That dream came true July 2, 1980.
They began their newly wedded life in Stockton where John was a commissioned police officer for the city. In early 1981, they moved to Bolivar where John took a job for the city of Bolivar as a dispatcher. He then started EMT school in Springfield and became employed at Sac Osage Hospital in Osceola.
On Oct. 2, 1986, they were blessed with a girl named Sarah Donn and shortly thereafter moved to Buffalo where John then worked for St. John's Ambulance. In May 1990, William Colfax "Cole" was born and completed the family. They were able to move back to Bolivar in March 1991, where John then worked for CMH. In 1995, he began as a deputy with the Polk County Sheriff's office.
He continued in that career until April 2006, when he went to work as a security officer for Cox South in Springfield. Along with his law enforcement career, John volunteered as an instructor with the University of Missouri Fire and Rescue Unit. He was active with Polk County Relay for Life and earned his auctioneer's license in 2000 from the Missouri Auction School in St. Louis.
While raising their children, he was an active dad attending all the school functions and extracurricular activities. He was an avid Kansas City Chiefs fan and golfer. Special occasions with family were often spent playing cards and board games. He was looking forward to Sarah's wedding this Friday to his new son-in-law, Arlan Gingerich.
Donita and John celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary with a trip to Alaska. It proved to be a once-in-a-lifetime trip that will never be forgotten.
On Sept. 15, 2007, John suffered a heart attack while on duty at Cox South. He went to the emergency room on his own and was soon in surgery for a triple by-pass. Making a full recovery, he returned back to work and continued to live life to its fullest. That included his favorite Red Velvet
cake, watching football and doting on his wife.
Surviving John are his devoted wife, Donita; their children, Sarah, her fiance, Arlan, and son Cole, all of Bolivar; three brothers, Joe of Bolivar, Charles and wife Nancy of Overland Park, Kan., and Mark and wife Cassie of Bolivar; father-in law, Don Roberts of Bolivar; several nieces and nephews; and a host of family and friends. He will be greatly missed.
Services were Tuesday, Sept. 9, in Pitts Chapel with Chaplain Robin Storer and the Rev. Jerry Book officiating, and memories were shared by Joe Rushing and Mike Parson. Burial followed in the Payne Cemetery, Polk. Musical selections were "When I Get Where I'm Goin'," and "Go Rest High On That Mountain."
Pallbearers were Mike Campbell, Isaac McGinnis, Mike Parsons, Mike Sallee, Rick Scholten, Vance Thomas, Brent VanBebber, Brian Whalen and Kenny Witt. Friends and family may sign a guest book or send private condolences at www.greenlawnfuneralhome.com. In lieu of plants and flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the John Pirkle Memorial Fund c/o of the funeral home. Arrangements have been entrusted to Pitts Chapel of Greenlawn Funeral Homes, Bolivar.
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