"Alyce, Madison and the Van Kirk family - so sorry to hear of Hank?s passing. Thinking of you."
In loving memory of
Henry "Hank" Van Kirk
April 29, 1932 - December 11, 2019
Obituary
Henry "Hank" Allen Van Kirk, Ed.D.
Dr. Henry Allen "Hank" Van Kirk, 87, of the Kensington in Winona, died December 11, 2019, in hospice care at Saint Anne's of Winona. Hank was born in Clearwater, Nebraska, April 29, 1932, to James and Zelma (Holm) Van Kirk. When Hank was 9, his family moved to Neligh, Nebraska. As a child, Hank loved his pony Prince, playing golf, and keeping his beloved parents and sister Shirley on their toes. Hank excelled in sports. He graduated high school in 1950 having achieved 12 athletic letters. Unbeknownst to his parents at the time, he also excelled in shooting pool, which he continued playing expertly until weeks before his death.
Hank attended Doane University and Norfolk Junior College in Nebraska before serving as a staff sergeant in the U.S. Air Force Security Service as a radio intercept from 1952 to 1956. During his time in the service in England, he played football in the European Football League. He returned to the states and got his undergraduate degree from Wayne State University, Wayne, Nebraska, and his master's and doctorate in educational psychology and counseling from University of Northern Colorado in Greeley. While at Wayne, he met Alyce Buschelman of Crofton, Nebraska, on a blind date, where he impressed her by taking her to a high school basketball game that he then refereed. She reluctantly agreed to a second date. They were united in marriage March 29, 1958.
Hank's early career was as a classroom teacher, guidance counselor, and coach (track and football) in Osmond and Pierce, Nebraska, and Longmont and Greeley, Colorado. He taught at Winona State University from 1968 to 1991 in the counselor education graduate program. He was incredibly proud of his many WSU students who went on to become excellent educators and counselors. He was the WSU assistant men's basketball coach from 1985 to 1989, during which the Warrior defense was ranked second in the nation. In 2002, he was 70 and enjoying retirement when he took the head boys basketball coaching position at Houston High School, Houston, Minnesota, for a single season. Despite being initially called "Coach Grandpa," by a few players, Hank led the Hurricanes to scoring records and their most-winning season in many years.
He was named a Colorado Outstanding Guidance Counselor in 1967 and a Distinguished Alumnus of his high school in 2005. He was a 50-year member of First Congregational Church UCC and a longtime member of the American Legion, Westfield Golf Club, Friendship Center and the YMCA in Winona. He received his 60-year pin from the Masonic Lodge in 2014. In his spare time, Hank volunteered as a cancer support group facilitator. His hobbies included handball, golf, and tournament pool at the Winona Friendship Center. He played noon pick-up basketball with WSU students until he was well into his 70s. He loved sports, especially the Nebraska Cornhuskers, Minnesota Vikings, Minnesota Twins, and Winona State Warrior football and basketball. He also thoroughly enjoyed participating in a Freedom Honor Flight, accompanied by his grandson Sam.
He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Alyce (Buschelman) Van Kirk, children Kathy (Paul) Przywojski, Kim (Eric) West, Jim Van Kirk, and Jon (Jennifer) Van Kirk. Brother-in-law Ken (Su) Hopkins, sisters-in-law Lou McCabe, Linda (Paul) Gerber, and Norma Buschelman. Grandchildren Callie (Kelsey) Krzyzanowski, Sam (Diana Johnson-Salvador) Przywojski, Micah West, Josiah (Amy) West, Lydia (Chris) Reames, Abby West, John Caleb West, and Madison Van Kirk. Great-grandchildren Hayden, Briah, and Camaron West, Jacklin and Hunter Wyant, Ruby Reames, Kastor Hartman, and babies Przywojski and Krzyzanowski on the way. He is survived by many loving nieces and nephews including his namesake Landon Henry Hopkins, and his godchild, Hannah Norman.
He was preceded in death by his parents, James Allen and Zelma Grace (Holm) Van Kirk; his sister Shirley (Van Kirk) Hopkins, his in-laws Alfred and Wanda Buschelman, Richard Buschelman, Jack and Jean (Mueller) Buschelman, and Dick McCabe, and a great-grandson Linus Theodore Krzyzanowski.
A celebration of life will be held in Winona at a later date. Burial this spring will be at Laurel Hill Cemetery in Neligh, Nebraska. In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial to the organization of your choice or the Westfield Golf Club Junior Golf Program, Winona, Minnesota. The family wishes to thank St. Anne's Extended Healthcare, Winona Area Hospice, Winona Health, and Mayo Clinic-Rochester.
Hoff Celebration of Life Center - Goodview is assisting the family with arrangements. Please share a memory of Hank and sign his online guestbook at www.hofffuneral.com.
Tributes
"Nicest guy ever! In my student days Hank was at the top of my list of favorite professors. He was a terrific facilitator, cared about every student, and shared his good humor and expertise lavishly. As a WSU colleague, Hank was one of the first people I looked for at coffee break or lunch. We shared a love of basketball and his coaching insights, especially his defensive wizardry. Among my favorite Hank memories is talking with him at and after WSU basketball games. Typical conversation after a 20+ point WSU win: Me: "Well, the Warriors played pretty good defense tonight." Hank (with his sly grin): "Not good enough." If there's basketball in Heaven, Hank will coach the defense. My sympathy and thoughts go out to you, Alyce. Thank you for sharing a wonderful man with the rest of us. "
"I loved Hank! So sharp and very nice. We would chuckle together about things at the Friendship Center Pool Tournaments. We all supported him in the ?don?t tell Alyce? secrets. He was a great player and such a social person. So sorry to lose him! God will certainly use his soul for a future great person."
"Alice, we are saddened by the loss of Hank. He will be missed. He had such a great sense of humor. I'm glad we shared the dinners we had as neighborhood group. It was always fun. Rollie enjoyed shooting pool with him at the friendship center."
"Hank was one of the kindest men I knew. I was at a daycare at his house with his wife Alyce (she is an incredible woman!) What a pair!!! One of my favorite memories of Hank was running into his room while he was napping. He would grab our little feet "to check how they smelled." "Pheeew!!!" He would cry, and we would run away giggling. I love that man. Thank you for a great life Hank. And thank you both Hank and Alyce for all your love!!"
"My kids just loved him. He was there in the morning when I dropped them off for daycare at Alyce?s. He would interact with them and tease them. Once when Jim was into his camouflage/army stage, Jim walked in one morning dressed head to foot?hat to shoes?in camo. Hank greeted little brother Ben and then said, ?Why didn?t Jimmy come?? I explained that he did and Hank exclaimed, ?Well he must have slipped right past me. I didn?t even see him.? Of course Jim was grinning from ear to ear. This continued on for some time with Jim then talking to him and Hank looking under the table and behind the door for him. Jim absolutely loved it! This happened so often and we all loved his dry sense of humor! He was the best! Sherrie McGuire"
"Sending love to the Van Kirk Family. Hank was a special man. I will always remember his quips and his humor and his intellect. Sending hugs. "
"Alyce and Family: Sorry to read of your loss. The four of us always had a good time together. God bless all of you and rest in peace, Hank."
"In the big picture I only knew Hank for a short period of time. How I wish it had been longer. I first met Hank at the Friendship Center and he immediately made me feel right at home. I soon learned to listen to his words of advice around the pool table and to never, never assume he could not make an impossible shot! If you looked up humor in the dictionary I'm sure you would find a picture of Hank. He always made a day better for having been around him. We talked frequently of playing golf but health issues got in the way and I will always regret that. I believe the union of Hank and Alyce to be one of God's special blessings just from things he said to me and seeing their interaction while at St. Ann. I'm glad I got to see that and to meet two of his daughters. Hank, you were one of a kind and will be missed. Larry (Mac) MacLennan"
"Hank was a great friend and colleague at WSU. He opened his home when I needed commuting from St. Paul to Winona. From my first day as a faculty member at WSU, he helped me navigate the system and was always available for consult and a good laugh. Morning coffee with Hank and his friends at Kmart and other spots was always fun. I will remember him often and miss him a lot. Nick Ruiz"
"I'm so sorry Alyce. Always enjoyed seeing him at church. Always friendly. May your cherished memories bring you warmth and comfort. "
"Hank was a memorable friend. We met in Greeley, Colorado when he was finishing his doctorate and head counselor for the laboratory school. We had good times--eating, visiting, basketball games, softball and fishing. My father-in-law came once to visit and we were to pick up Hank for a fishing trip to the Gunnison area. The 3 of us were going to stay in a tent 2 nights and fish for trout all day on Saturday and Sunday. When I drove to Hank's house to pick him up in the morning he had a huge pile of suitcases out in the yard. There were likely 15 or 20 bags, suitcases and other large containers. "Good grief" my father-in-law said. I said, "We'll never get all that stuff in this car." Of course that was just Hank's humor. He loved to joke and provoke (all in the best, most loving and humorous ways) We never stopped talking about it. A story for the Ushers' book of memories. RIP good friend Hank. You were memorable in our lives. Our genuine sympathy and prayers go out to you, Alyce, and to the kids. He was special"
"Hank was truly a great friend and like a grandpa to me. I remember the first time meeting Hank was at the Apache mall in Rochester Minnesota. Hank and his wife Alyce where working the dipping dots stand. My family and I where greeted with a big smile from Hank and Immediately we became friends with Hank and his Wife. "