1960-2024
Wilma Jean Kirchner, age 64, of Redfield, died on Sunday, December 29, 2024. She left this world in the arms of her cherished husband and adoring daughter and surrounded by friends and family. Heaven is surely a little sweeter now.
She is preceded in death by her father, Don Eli Croy and a host of horses, dogs and cats that she never wanted, but tolerated.
She is survived by her husband Tim; her daughter and son, Kristin and Brad Moore and their children, her 3 grandsons, Wyatt, Max and Cannon Moore; her mother and stepfather, Louise and Al Hester; sister and niece, Elizabeth Ann Tuck-Rowan and Tiffany Amanda Tuck Spivey; sister, brother in law and nephew, Donita, Gerald and Mitch Ply; brother, sister in law and nephews, Cary, Pam, Cody (Amy) and Colton Croy; brother, James Croy; brothers and sisters in law, Jeannie Sharkey, Brenda (Tim) Russell and Matt (Sara) Kirchner; lifelong friend Annette Shankles, and a multitude of nieces, nephews, aunts, cousins, friends and church family, all of which she cherished.
Wilma was born on October 8th, 1960 to Don and Louise Croy. She was raised in the Orion Community and graduated from Sheridan High School in 1979. While working at Casa Bonita in high school, she met the love of her life, Tim Kirchner. They married in November of 1979 and the city boy and country girl celebrated 45 years of marriage last month. She enjoyed a full career in insurance administration until 2010, when she began her battle with cancer.
She has been an active lifelong member of Orion Missionary Baptist Church, leading many children to Jesus, spending time with the sick and elders of the church, helping with the Celebrate Recovery program and overall being an amazing example of positivity and trusting God.
Beyond her church service, her other passion was being a mother. Although Kristin is her only child, she has been a Mom to many. From her Sunday school kids to all the strays that Kristin has brought home along the way. Laura Caroll and Tiffany Surginer were staples in her home, the sisters Kristin had always desired and the daughters Wilma never wanted, but she loved them anyway.
In 2010, life changed. It brought both joy and trials. This was the year she received her initial diagnosis of brain cancer, followed by breast cancer, which she fought with grace and courage over the next 14 years.
2010 also provided her greatest joy, and her greatest challenge, a grandson, Wyatt Orion, followed 2 years later by twins Max August and Cannon William. Nothing made her happier than "her boys". Along with kicking cancers tail, she spent the last 14 years doting over her boys and loving them to pieces, traveling with family, shopping with friends and making memories.
If you knew Wilma, you knew true love and humility. It is rare to find someone like her and we should all strive to be more like that.
She gave us enough love and lessons to last 100 lifetimes and she will live on in all of us.
Love was her game and she left it all on the field. Now, go and play ball.
Funeral service will be Thursday, January 2, 2025 at 10:00 A.M. at Orion Missionary Baptist Church with Bro. Jim Easley officiating. Burial will follow at Orion Cemetery. Visitation will be Wednesday 5:00-7:00 at the funeral home.
Pallbearers are Colton Croy, Cody Croy, Bud Harrington, Michael Andrews, RJ Spann, and Buddy Hawley.
