Marvin E. VanKirk

Marvin E. VanKirk, 104, of Bancroft, NE, died on Friday, September 2, 2022, at St. Joseph’s Hillside Villa in West Point, NE. A celebration of the lives of Marvin and Mary Ellan VanKirk will be held on Saturday, October 8, 2022, at 10:30 a.m. at the First Presbyterian Church in Bancroft; Pastor Charity Potter will be officiating. The visitation will be held at the Munderloh – Smith Funeral Home in Bancroft on Friday, October 7, 2022, from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. Munderloh – Smith Funeral Home in Bancroft is in charge of the arrangements. Marvin was born in Hornick, IA, the son of Harley and Mary (Heck) VanKirk on December 26, 1917. At an early age, the family moved to a farm near Randolph, NE. He attended school before farming with his family. On August 27, 1940, Marvin, was united in marriage to Mary Ellan Henderson in Wayne, NE. They started their family on a farm in Randolph and later moved near Pender where they also helped farm, before moving to Bancroft. He worked for many years at Bancroft Public Schools, where he did maintenance. Marvin enjoyed woodworking and enjoyed taking care of the Bancroft Cemetery for twenty-five years. Marvin and Mary Ellan were the parents of five children, eighteen grandchildren, 42 great-grandchildren, fifteen great-great-grandchildren, and twenty-eight in-laws. He is survived by a son, Larry (Diane) VanKirk of Bancroft, NE; daughters, Barb (Don) Nelson of Bancroft, NE, Deb (Rick) Faltys of Clarkson, NE; son-in-law, Al Simonsen of Bancroft, NE; 17 grandchildren, 41 great-grandchildren; and fifteen great-great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Mary Ellan; son, Ron VanKirk; daughter, Beverly Simonsen; daughter-in-law, Carole VanKirk; granddaughter, Anne Marie VanKirk; great-grandson, Dillon Synovec; sister Lucille Delozier and brother-in-law Lyle Delozier.