Charles “Chuck” Robert Kirkwood, age 94, passed away on December 23, right where he wanted to be, in his home.

He was born January 4, 1929 in Minnesota. When he was a baby, they moved to Barron where he lived the rest of his life.

He was a lifetime member at the First Lutheran Church in Barron. He graduated from Barron High School in 1946. Chuck played his trumpet in the high school band. When he was 15, his band director asked him to play TAPS for a local Veteran. For the next 80 years, he played TAPS beautifully for Legion and VFW Posts in several Barron County towns. Chuck never served in the military due to his asthma. He said it was the least he could do for those men and women who did serve our Country. He played approximately 4,000 time in rain, sunshine and bitter cold. He received numerous awards for playing TAPS.

He started working for the Barron “County Shop”, Highway Department at the age of 17. He started as a mechanic and moved to foreman for most of his over 40 years there.

He played with the dance band “The 4 Aces” for approximately 30 years. When he outlived most of his band members, he started playing at local nursing homes with his piano player Edna McWhithey. They grew the band to 7 members. The band was named “Chuck Kirkwood and Friends”. At one time, they were playing at 26 nursing homes. The band members changed over the years; Chuck remained the driving force to continue playing.

Chuck loved hunting and fishing. His stories could fill volumes of books on his adventures.

The light of his life was his high school sweetheart, Mamie Mildred Mullikin. They married on October 25, 1958. They had his “Favorite Daughter”, their only child, Linda on October 28, 1959.

Chuck is survived by his daughter, Linda (Scott) Warwick of Cumberland; grandchildren, Kelly (Joe) Hansen, Kiel (Sara) Warwick, Matthew Warwick; and great-grandson, Benjamin Scott Warwick.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Mamie on January 14, 2009; his parents; and brothers, Bob and Dick.

A funeral service for Chuck Kirkwood will be held on Saturday, January 6, 2024 at 2:30 p.m. at First Lutheran Church in Barron. Visitation will be from 4:00 until 7:00 p.m. on Friday, January 5 at Rausch and Steel Funeral Home in Barron and one hour prior to the service at the church on Saturday afternoon. Burial will be at Wayside Cemetery in Barron.

Arrangements are being handled by Rausch and Steel Funeral Home in Barron.

Last Update: Dec 29, 2023 2:32 pm CST