It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of our mother, Louise Faye Kirkemo, on Oct. 10, 2010, after a courageous two year battle with ovarian cancer.
Mom was born Dec. 12, 1921, in Knapp, Wisc. She was the third daughter born to Benjamin Charles and Emma Frances (Brooks) Liermann. A week after her birth, her mother died. Raising three young girls was too much of a challenge for Ben, so he arranged for Mom to be adopted by Addison Clark “Ed” and Faye (McNary) Brooks. Ed was the brother of Emma Frances.
Mom grew up on a farm just outside of Knapp. She attended grades 1-10 at Knapp before graduating from Menomonie High School in 1940. There weren’t many career options for women then, so she decided to pursue a career in nursing with an interest in public health.
She received her nurse’s training at Abbott Hospital in Minneapolis, Minn. While there, World War II started and she was outsourced to a hospital in Grand Rapids, Minn., to assist with the growing patient demands. On one of those occasions, while waiting for a bus to Minneapolis, she was spotted by a young Navy cadet who was home on leave. His name was Leland Kirkemo. He managed to meet her while on the bus and they began a relationship sustained by letters and occasional dates when their schedules permitted.
After graduating from nurse’s training, Mom joined the US Army and was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in the Nurse Corps. After her basic training she had brief assignments stateside before shipping out to the Pacific Theater from New Orleans. She traveled through the Panama Canal to Hawaii, and finally to The Philippines where she arrived at war’s end. After a short tour there, she was transferred to Japan before returning to the states.
Mom mustered out in the summer of 1946 and married Lee on August 25, 1946 in Knapp. This was the beginning of a partnership that would last for 64 years and carry them to numerous challenges and destinations. It was a good fit as their strengths and weaknesses complemented each other.
Three children quickly followed as did the nomadic life of a Navy family. New Jersey, Minnesota, California, Virginia, California, Alabama, Washington, Nebraska, Washington, Virginia, California, Virginia, and finally back to Washington. Despite all the moves, it was decided early that Oak Harbor would be our permanent home.
Mom was the glue that held our family together. She made a home for our family at each new duty station as Dad advanced his career in the Navy. During those years Mom took an active role in our lives as home room mother, band calendar sales coordinator, PTA participant, and with scouting, Little League, and all our other activities. Dad was no absentee father, but he was often away leaving Mom as head of the household.
As Dad’s career progressed Mom’s role in their partnership expanded. She took active roles in the community supporting various organizations including the Oak Harbor School Board, the Officer’s Wives Club, the Library Board, and particularly the wives and Navy families at each destination. People were drawn to her because she was warm and sincere. She was modest by nature and truly enjoyed the people she met -— and she touched many in a positive way. But make no mistake; she could be feisty when the occasion called for it. She played many roles including wife, mother, doting grandmother, friend, confidant, and mentor; she will be irreplaceable to those whom she touched. But most of all, she will be greatly missed by her family.
Louise was preceded in death by Leland who was the great love of her life. He died on Sept. 23, 2010 after 64 years of marriage.
Mom was also preceded by her sister Alice Suckow of Elk Mound, Wisc. She is survived by her sister Ernestine Prinkey of Albuquerque, N.M.
Mom is also survived by her three children: Gordon and Jane (Ragland) Kirkemo of Olympia; Curtis and Gabi (Happel) Kirkemo of West Linn, Ore., who are the parents Kevin and Lisa, both students at Oregon State University; and Kathy Kirkemo-Clark of Redmond, Wash. Kathy is the mother of Molly Louise Clark who married Timothy Mastromonica. Molly and Tim are the parents of Evan Mastromonica who has been the source of great joy for Mom since his birth April 29, 2010.
The family would like to thank the staff at Regency on Whidbey for the support they provided to our parents in their last years. In particular, we want to thank Sandy Sargeant for the respect, dedicated care and love that she gave to our Mom during her final months.
A Funeral Service will be Monday, Oct. 18, at 2 p.m. at First United Methodist Church, Pastor Dave Johnson officiating. Interment will take place at Tahoma National Cemetery on Tuesday, Oct. 19. Memorials may be made to the Oak Harbor Education Foundation, P.O. Box 1801, Oak Harbor, WA 98277. Family and friends are encouraged to leave their condolences at www.whidbeymemorial.com.
