George R. Tirk
George R. Tirk, 76, of Butler died Saturday morning at the VNA Inpatient Hospice following a courageous battle with bladder cancer.
He was born in Butler on Dec. 24, 1935, and was a son of the late William and Bessie Daugherty Tirk.
George had been employed for 23 years at the Pullman Standard plant in Butler until it closed. He then worked for Mo-Con in Portersville for several years. He retired as a supervisor from Trinity Industries in Butler. Most recently he had been working part-time at K and K Parts Co. on Route 422.
George had proudly served his country during the Korean War with the U.S. Navy aboard the battleship U.S.S. Iowa. He was a member of the American Legion Post 417 in Prospect.
A member of the St. Paul Roman Catholic Church in Butler, he was a life member of the Roman Catholic Men’s Club in Herman.
An avid Pittsburgh sports teams fan, he greatly supported the Pirates, Steelers and Penguins. An outdoorsman, he was a hunter and fisherman and enjoyed gardening. His greatest joy was being with his grandchildren, especially at family cookouts.
Left to cherish his memory are his loving wife of 42 years, Mary McLafferty Tirk, who he married Oct. 31, 1969; three daughters and their spouses, Lisa and Tom Kuzora, Kelli Hoffman and Lori and Braden Weitzel, all of Butler; five grandchildren, Braden, Garrett, Allison, Danny and Courtney; and three stepgrandchildren, Abbie, Stephanie and Ben; two brothers, William Tirk and Joseph and Kay Tirk; and two sisters, Jane and Ron Waldenmyer and Reta and Jim Shuler, all of Butler.
In addition to his parents, George was preceded in death by a son-in-law, Tim Hoffman.
TIRK — Friends of George R. Tirk, who died Saturday, June 30, 2012, will be received at the Geibel Funeral Home, 201 E. Cunningham St., Butler, from 3 to 7 p.m. Tuesday. Funeral services will follow at 7 p.m. at the funeral home with the Rev. Thomas Gillespie of the St. Paul Catholic Church officiating. A private burial will be at Butler County Memorial Park.Information also is available at www.geibelfuneralhome.com.
