David Lee Shirk

A celebration of life for David Lee Shirk, 93, rural Lawrence, will be at 1:30 p.m. Nov. 15 at the Kansas Room in the Kansas Union.
Mr. Shirk died Monday, Nov. 2, 2009, at Lawrence Presbyterian Manor.
He was born Nov. 14, 1915, in Salina, the son of Elijah Hix and Vista Ora Cochran Shirk. He grew up in El Dorado, where he received his primary and secondary education.
Mr. Shirk enrolled at Kansas University in 1935, after being recruited to play football. He earned football letters in 1936, 1937 and 1938, and was team captain in 1938. He was All Big Six for two years and All American Check List for one year. He was drafted in 1939 by the Steelers, but believed his future lay in teaching and not in professional football. He also participated in track and wrestling at KU. He earned both bachelor’s and master’s degrees at KU.
His coaching career included stops at KU, Haskell, Augusta, Abilene and Seaman of Topeka, coaching football, basketball, track and golf. He also taught physical education, health and driver’s education, and was an administrator. He won the Kansas State Basketball Championship while in Augusta.
He served in the U.S. Army from 1943 to 1947, and was a life member of the Disabled American Veterans. He was a longtime area farmer. He and his wife have held KU basketball and football tickets since 1940.
Mr. Shirk was a member of the K Club, a life member of the KU Alumni Association and a 70-year member of the Gamma Omicron Chapter of Kappa Sigma fraternity.
He married Margaret Lewis, whom he met at KU. They shared 69 years of marriage. She survives, of the home.
Other survivors include two daughters, Nancy Yonally and husband Jim, Overland Park, and Sally Walquist, Lawrence; three grandchildren, Mark Yonally, Lori Houk and Todd Walquist; and two great-grandsons, Coleman and Chase Houk.
He was preceded in death by a grandson, David John Yonally, and a son-in-law, John Walquist.
A private graveside ceremony was conducted Wednesday at Memorial Park Cemetery.
Online condolences may be sent at rumsey-yost.com.