Esther B. Shirk

Esther B. Shirk, 73 years, 9 months, 15 days, of Granton, peacefully went to be with the Lord on Thursday, Sept. 4, 2025, at her home surrounded by her family.

She was born in Narvon, Pa., on Nov. 19, 1951, the daughter of Christian Z. and Elizabeth B. (Brubacher) Kilmer. On Nov. 16, 1971, she was united in marriage to Aaron Z. Shirk. They moved to Wisconsin in 1980, and settled at their residence in Granton in 2012. Esther and Aaron were members of the Pine Grove Mennonite Church in Granton.

Esther is survived by her husband, Aaron Z. Shirk; six children: Rosanne (Nelson) Eberly of Cassopolis, Mich., Loretta (Alvin) Musser of Memphis, Mo., Kenneth (Danita) Shirk of Willard, Dale (Candace) Shirk of Neillsville, Aaron Eugene Shirk of Loyal, and Kathleen (Leonard) Musser of Memphis, Mo.; 27 grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; four sisters: Florence Nolt of New Holland, Pa., Ada (Phares) Zimmerman of Millmont, Pa., Barbara (Walter) Zimmerman of Barnett, Mo., and Bertha (Samuel) Shirk of Spencer, Tenn.; sisters-in-law, Cora Kilmer and Leora (Abner) Oberholtzer; and brothers-in-law, Eli Shirk and Roy Martin.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Christian and Elizabeth Kilmer; two grandsons, Alexander and Michael Shirk; five sisters, Katherine (Menno) Ramer, Naomi (Lester) Martin, Mary Ann (Lloyd) Hoover, Betty Shirk, and Annetta Martin; three brothers, Maynard Kilmer, John Kilmer, and Aaron (Anna) Kilmer; and a brother-in-law, Raymond Nolt. Funeral services for Esther were held at 9:30 a.m., Monday, Sept. 8, at the Pine Grove Mennonite Church in Granton. Visitation was from 1-4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m., Sunday, at the Green Grove Fellowship Center north of Loyal. Interment was in the Pine Grove Mennonite Cemetery in Granton.

The Gesche Funeral Home is assisting Esther’s family with funeral arrangements.

PAID OBITUARY 173821