Christine R. Grimm-Kirk passed away on 25 Dec 2024 after battling cancer for more than a decade. She was born on 10 Jan 1947 in Oshkosh, WI. She attended the historic Allenville School, and Ball Prairie School which were one room schoolhouses. Then at Winneconne School District she was in the graduating class of 1965.
Christine graduated from UW-O in 1976 with a degree in social work. She began her career with Fond du Lac County Protective Services. She served the community for 25 years with the Winnebago County Association of Retarded Citizens ARC/ RCDD. Before her retirement she worked at Valley Packaging/Outagamie County Family Support where she wrote grants and supported the Birth to 3 Program. Throughout her career she had guardianship of several wards to whom she was saddened to resign as she continued to fight cancer.
In 1979 Christine built her own home in Winneconne through the Self-Help Housing Program. She loved music and took an annual summer vacation to the Great Northern Bluegrass Festival in Mole Lake, WI.
She was married to her second husband, Arnold C. Kirk on Valentine's Day 1992, at the Wee Kirk o' the Heather Wedding Chapel in Las Vegas, NV. She had a passion for riding Harleys and owned 3 different ones during her time riding. She had wonderful memories of all the rides, benefits, great scenery (especially Big Falls), and friendships made along the road.
Christine also enjoyed local history and genealogy research. She had many adventures with Mary, Alice and Christa Lee visiting archives, libraries, cemeteries, and historical societies around the state and US. On 5 Nov 2023 she was admitted as member of the National Society of Daughters of the American Revolution, National Number 1047253 under Revolutionary War patriot, Robert Allen of Vermont. She also made recordings with Mary Alice for the history of Vinland Township.
Christine was preceded in death by her husband, Arnold C. Kirk; parents, Roland S. Grimm and Ruth M. (Albright); sister, Catherine H. Bolton; brother-in-law, George Bolton. She is survived by daughter, Christa Lee R. Brynwood (Thomas II); and son, Jay D. Fleck; grandchildren, Brittian A. Henderson; Thomas L. Brynwood III, Forrest H. Brynwood; and great-granddaughter, Scarlett R. Henderson all of Oshkosh. She is further survived by Gary L. Fleck (Fran), the father of her children; cousins, Mary Alice Klemp (Dave) of Butte des Morts, Dale Swenson (Marlys) of Winneconne, Tim Teld (Albright), Michael Frederick Fox Lake, Keith Frederick (Joan) of Markesan, David Albright of Chicago, Steven Albright of Pickett, and Karen Albright of Berlin.
A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, January 18, 2025, from 3:00pm-7:00pm, at the Fin n' Feather 22 W Main St, Winneconne, WI 54986. Interment will be privately held at a later date at Bell Cemetery in Winneconne.