Francis “Gene” Kirn, 88, of De Soto died March 1, 2017, at Mercy Hospital Jefferson in Crystal City. Mr. Kirn was a retired electrician for De Soto Electric and a World War II veteran of the U.S. Merchant Marine. He also was a member of St. Rose of Lima Church in De Soto. He enjoyed travel, making two trips to Alaska in a fifth-wheel camper, and spent 12 winters in Arizona, where he and his wife volunteered with Project CURE. Born March 2, 1928, in Biehle, he was the son of the late August Henry and Catherine Cecelia (Zoellner) Kirn.
He is survived by his wife of 67 years: Vera “Pat” (Miget) Kirn, whom he married on Dec. 31, 1949, in Perryville; two sons: Michael (Connie Schmidt) Kirn of Crestwood and Scott (Claudia) Kirn of De Soto; two sisters: Patricia (Max) Hamilton of Shiloh, Ill., and Dorothy (Bill) Grass of Norfolk, Va.; a sister-in-law: Edna Kirn of Perryville; four grandsons: August (Sarah) Kirn, Seth (Melissa) Kirn, Zachary (Brandy) Kirn and Thomas (Shannon Stephenson) Kirn; and four great-grandchildren: Ian Kirn, Colin Kirn, Sophia Kirn and Isabelle Kirn. He was preceded in death by two sisters: Bernadette “Stella” Kirn, O.F.S., and Bernetta (Galon) Bearman; and three brothers: Sylvester (Zita) Kirn, Edward Kirn and Thomas (Rita and Jean) Kirn.
Visitation is at 9 a.m. and a funeral Mass is scheduled for 10 a.m. Saturday, March 11, at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church, officiated by Father Alexander Anderson. Memorials may be made to St. Rose of Lima Adopt-An-Angel, 504 S. Third St., De Soto, 63020. Arrangements are under the direction of Dietrich-Mothershead Funeral Home in De Soto.