Mr. James Estell “Jim” Kirkman, age 92 of Portage, IN, formerly of Todd County, passed away Monday, February 24, 2025, at Aviva Senior Living in Valparaiso, IN. Services will be at Noon, Saturday, March 15, 2025, at Latham Funeral Home in Elkton with Rev. Fred Harrison officiating. Burial will follow in the Kirkman Cemetery with military honors. Visitation will be from 11:00 a.m. to 12 Noon Saturday at Latham Funeral Home. The service will be livestreamed at lathamfuneralhome.com.
Mr. Kirkman was born on November 23, 1932, in Todd County. He proudly served in the U.S. Army and retired from the U.S. Steel Garyworks after 35 years of service. He had been an active member of the Portage Moose Lodge, Portage V.F.W., Porter Lodge F&AM, and Orak Shrine. He enjoyed working with the Lake County Sheriff’s Auxiliary and all of the adventures he had delivering motor homes far and wide in retirement. He was preceded in death by his parents, James “Riley” and Agnes Stella Comperry Kirkman, his daughter-in-law, Judith Kirkman, stepdaughter, Sandy Allison and siblings, Opal Kirkman, Sylvia Hyde, R.C. Kirkman, Coy Kirkman, Daniel Kirkman and Mary Smith.
Survivors include his children, Linda Savage and her husband Bob of Warsaw, IN, David Kirkman of Westville, IN, siblings, Lendon “Fuddy” Kirkman and his wife Ruth of Benton, KY, Edith Shanklin of Allegre and Mildred “Millie” Wasdin of Georgia, Grandchildren, Benjamin, Jennifer, Nicole, Kathleen, Christine and Jayme, and 14 great-grandchildren.
