Michael Kregg Kirts, 63, died Tuesday, May 21 after a long, hard-fought struggle with trigeminal neuralgia that started in 1996.
He graduated from Marion Harding High School in 1967.
He sang and played lead and bass guitar in numerous bands including Joe Bare, Check Mates and The Last Tymes. Two of their songs that they recorded while still in high school are on YouTube, thanks to Don Lister.
His last band TKO (Thorpe, Kirts, Owen) gave him the opportunity to meet the love of his life, Janice (Prater) Risner. They were married nearly 28 years. Jan has been his tireless caregiver for the last fifteen years, exhibiting selfless, tender devotion to Kregg.
He loved his family and enjoyed spending time with his children and grandchildren. An avid trapper, hunter, and fisherman, Kregg loved the outdoors. In his younger days, he was a member of the Harding Tennis Team, winning several trophies. He also spent many hours at Lincoln Park pitching for several baseball teams.
In addition to his wife, Kregg is survived by his daughter and son-in-law; Lindsey and Jeff Johnston and their children; Lucy and Stella; his step-son; Jason Risner and his children; Jeffrey and Anne Marie, siblings; Keith Kirts of Oregon, Karen Kirts, Karol Rainier and Kim Jenner, all of Baltimore, MD, and his special lifelong friends; Dick Thorpe, Steve Mull and Dan Owen.
He was preceded in death by his parents; Dana and Betty (Newell) Kirts and his in-laws; Donald and Shirley Prater.
A memorial service will be held at the Hughes Allen Funeral Home on Friday, May 24th at 11:00 AM. Jan’s Uncle; Charles Bowling will officiate. Friends may call on Friday from 10 AM until the time of the memorial service.
If desired, memorial contributions may be made in Kregg’s memory to the Kidney Dialysis Support Group and expressions of sympathy may be sent directly to his family by logging onto www.hughesallen.com and opening his obituary.
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