Stanley “Pat” Kirschbaum, Sr., 86, a resident of Beaver Dam passed away peacefully on Monday, August 11, 2014, at his home.
A memorial gathering will be held on Saturday, August 23rd from 9 – 11 a.m. at the Koepsell-Murray Funeral Home N7199 N Crystal Lake Rd., Beaver Dam. A memorial service will follow at 11 a.m., with the Rev. Jeff Nicholas officiating. Lunch will be served following the service. Thereafter, a private family inurnment will be held at Highland Memory Gardens, Township of Trenton, WI.
Pat was born to Benjamin J. and May E. (Taylor) Kirschbaum on June 17, 1928, in Cassville, WI. After they graduated from UW-Platteville, he and Joyce M. Walker of Dodgeville, married on August 9, 1949, in Standart, WI.
Pat was not one to let the grass grow under his feet. He started in sales early — fixing and selling cars to put himself through college. While teaching Math and Science at the Beaver Dam Middle School, he earned his masters degree from UW-Madison and started both the Middle School Science Fair and the Audio/Visual Club. During the summers, he worked at the canning factory and sold Electrolux Vacuum Cleaners. One summer, he sold subscriptions for the Daily Citizen and won a new 1956 Ford as the prize. He retired from teaching in 1985 — after 33 years of service at the Middle School.
In 1972, he founded Stan’s Realty in Beaver Dam and ran the company with his family and friends. He began selling real estate and then transitioned to apartment rentals. One of his favorite sales slogans was: “What we lose on each sale, we make up for in volume.”
He enjoyed hunting, fishing and Country Music, especially Patsy Cline. Pat was always ready with a joke or two or three and loved to hang around people and make them laugh. He was a “child of the depression,” and was ever reluctant to be wasteful, which accounts for the fact that he was often seen behind the wheel of a prehistoric station wagon.
Pat is survived by his wife of 65 years, Joyce, his children: Mitzi Soldner, Stan Kirschbaum, Jr., Gene (Mickale Carter) Kirschbaum, Ben (Jenny) Kirschbaum, Sena DeJesus, and Jim (Ellen) Kirschbaum; his grandchildren: David (Emily) Soldner, Magelyn (Eric) Lanz, Billy Kirschbaum, Forest Kirschbaum, Roan Kirschbaum, Julie (Rob) Geisbush, Paul DeJesus, Jay Kirschbaum and Jenna Kirschbaum; his great-grandchildren: Niko Lanz, Isabelle Cook, Wesley Cook; his sister, Edith Parkins; his two sisters-in-law: Carol Kjelshus and Margaret Peat; and further survived by nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother, Ted, his brothers-in-law Stan Parkins and Delmar Peat, and his son-in-law, Gary Soldner.
Memorials may be directed to Trinity Church – United Methodist or to Hillside Hospice, both of Beaver Dam. Koepsell-Murray Funeral and Cremation Services, N7199 N. Crystal Lake Rd., Beaver Dam, is serving the family. Online condolences may be input at www.koepsellfh.com.
