William "Bill" Kirkland
February 23, 1922 — November 30, 2023
William H Kirkland (Bill) passed away peacefully on November 30,2023 at home with his wife of 33 years, Dona Lynn (nee Wetherbee) by his side.
Bill was born on February 23,1922 in Battle Creek, Michigan to Harriett Kellogg Kirkland and Bertram C. Kirkland. He was the grandson of Dr. and Mrs. John H. Kellogg and the nephew of WK Kellogg founders of the Kellogg Cereal Company. He was predeceased by his sisters , Elizabeth and Helena and a brother , Grenfell Kirkland.
Bill graduated from Michigan State College with a degree in economics in 1944. At the start of WW2, however, he enlisted in the Army and was training at Fort Custer when he became seriously ill and hospitalized disqualifying him from service. He then returned to college and upon graduation became a successful real estate developer of single family homes and apartment buildings in the Battle Creek area. He eventually expanded into diverse real estate ventures in the greater Michigan area. He retired to Boca Raton , Florida in the late 60s where he joined the Royal Palm Yacht Club and pursued his passion for boating and travel. He is a member of the Delray Beach Club and the Quail Ridge Country Club.
Bill and Dona traveled the world together, shared nearly every summer in Harbor Springs, Michigan with family and friends and cruised the Florida waters and the Bahamas on one of his two boats, the Special K or the Prima Dona. He was Commodore of the Gulfstream Yacht Club and enjoyed nothing better than being with his "boating buddies". Bill was a man of faith, a "good and kind man" , loving husband , father, grandfather and loyal friend and he indeed had countless friends throughout his long life. He was a generous man, always the first to "reach in his pocket". He loved entertaining and his home and his boats were always open to family and friends with drinks and food aplenty. With his long and blessed life of nearly 102 years he was saddened by having outlived most of his good friends.
Bill is survived by his loving wife and "First Mate", Dona, his much loved but mysteriously estranged son, Scott E Kirkland, his grandson, Michael Kirkland( Colleen), great grandchildren, William and Evelyn, and his loyal and loving niece and nephew, Betsy and Dan Mathews and nephews, Mike Race ( Marlin) and Tom Race. He is predeceased by his daughter, Shelly K Brown and his son William H Kirkland Jr.
Funeral service and burial are private.
Bill was born on February 23,1922 in Battle Creek, Michigan to Harriett Kellogg Kirkland and Bertram C. Kirkland. He was the grandson of Dr. and Mrs. John H. Kellogg and the nephew of WK Kellogg founders of the Kellogg Cereal Company. He was predeceased by his sisters , Elizabeth and Helena and a brother , Grenfell Kirkland.
Bill graduated from Michigan State College with a degree in economics in 1944. At the start of WW2, however, he enlisted in the Army and was training at Fort Custer when he became seriously ill and hospitalized disqualifying him from service. He then returned to college and upon graduation became a successful real estate developer of single family homes and apartment buildings in the Battle Creek area. He eventually expanded into diverse real estate ventures in the greater Michigan area. He retired to Boca Raton , Florida in the late 60s where he joined the Royal Palm Yacht Club and pursued his passion for boating and travel. He is a member of the Delray Beach Club and the Quail Ridge Country Club.
Bill and Dona traveled the world together, shared nearly every summer in Harbor Springs, Michigan with family and friends and cruised the Florida waters and the Bahamas on one of his two boats, the Special K or the Prima Dona. He was Commodore of the Gulfstream Yacht Club and enjoyed nothing better than being with his "boating buddies". Bill was a man of faith, a "good and kind man" , loving husband , father, grandfather and loyal friend and he indeed had countless friends throughout his long life. He was a generous man, always the first to "reach in his pocket". He loved entertaining and his home and his boats were always open to family and friends with drinks and food aplenty. With his long and blessed life of nearly 102 years he was saddened by having outlived most of his good friends.
Bill is survived by his loving wife and "First Mate", Dona, his much loved but mysteriously estranged son, Scott E Kirkland, his grandson, Michael Kirkland( Colleen), great grandchildren, William and Evelyn, and his loyal and loving niece and nephew, Betsy and Dan Mathews and nephews, Mike Race ( Marlin) and Tom Race. He is predeceased by his daughter, Shelly K Brown and his son William H Kirkland Jr.
Funeral service and burial are private.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of William "Bill" Kirkland, please visit our flower store.