Archive: Around Town

Kirk D. ShreveThis past couple of weeks has been a very sad week in Lansing.  Marion Thompson passed away on August 24th, followed by 22 year old Charlie Moon.  Both funerals were handled by Kirk Shreve, owner of Lansing Funeral Home.  Then last Saturday morning the 49 year old Shreve himself passed away, leaving the Lansing community in shock.

Hundreds of friends payed their respect at Lansing Funeral Home Tuesday, with lines of people stretching along the side of the building and a Sheriff's Deputy directing traffic well into the night.  On Wednesday more than 200 family, including his partner and companion of 26 years, Dr. Alexander Wood, and extended family members from his church and the Rotary and Lions clubs packed Lansing United Methodist Church for the funeral, to say their last goodbye to a man who has become so ingrained in the community that many wondered aloud how Lansing will recover from his loss.  Click here for his obituary,  here for this week's editorial about Kirk,  and here for our May story on Shreve.


Finger Lakes Funeral Directors Association released this statement about their colleague: "It is with deep sadness that The Finger Lakes Funeral Directors Assn. learned of the death of one of our own members, Kirk Shreve.

"Kirk has been a member of our association for many years. He has served the people of the Lansing community with dignity, honor and his death will indeed be a great loss to the funeral directing profession in Tompkins County. We extend our deepest sympathy to Kirk’s family and loved-ones."

Most moving were personal recollections from family and friends.  Pastor Bill Gottschalk Fielding recalled riding with Shreve to and from funerals, and readings and recollections from his nieces, nephew, brother and father recalled a warm, funny, sincere man who believed in giving back as much or more than he received.

The funeral home will remain open, though details have yet to be worked out.  Funeral Director Paul McPherson was a friend and colleague of Shreve's.  The two covered for each other while Shreve was alive, and McPherson will continue to do so even now.

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