He was born on June 24, 1945 to Nelda and Clifton “Jack” Hamm. He graduated from Woodruff High School in 1964. He played football, baseball, Sunday Morning League, fast and slow pitch softball. He completed a four year printing pressman apprenticeship at Fleming-Potter Co. and retired from Fast Printing, a subsidiary of Fleming-Potter, in 2001. On September 17, 1966 he married Mary Zimmerman from Peoria. In 1968 and 1971, they had two sons, Ryan and Derek.
Kirby was a baseball coach in the West Peoria Little League, coaching Ryan’s team from 1978 to 1980.
Kirby was a well-known football and basketball referee at the high school and collegiate level for 41 years. He officiated the IHSA Boys Basketball State Finals in 1983, 1984, and 1987 as well as the IHSA Football State Finals in 1989, 1990, and 1995. In 1999, he was inducted into the Woodruff High School Athletic Hall of Fame and in 2010 and 2011, he was inducted into the Peoria Officials and Bloomington-Normal Officials Hall of Fame. He inspired his son, Ryan, and grandson, Brock, to become basketball officials.
Kirby enjoyed playing golf and making and repairing golf clubs. After retiring, he worked at several golf shops, including the Golf Learning Center. He volunteered behind the scenes helping his wife, Mary, at the Pettengill-Morron House Museum. Kirby also enjoyed hunting, fishing, playing poker and buck euchre. He was an excellent popcorn maker that was enjoyed by all. His greatest attributes were that he was kind, generous, had a positive attitude and a great sense of humor.
Kirby is preceded in death by his brothers, Gary and Lyndon, and nephew, David. He is survived by his wife, Mary of 57 years, son Ryan and Loretta Hamm (Rolling Meadows), son Derek and Chris Hamm (Hanna City), grandsons Drake Hamm (Washington, IL) and Brock Hamm (fiancee Sydney Hart), sister Darla Barth, sister-in-law Julie McIntire, brother-in-law David McIntire, nephews Brett and Darren McIntire, Doug and Greg Barth, Mitch and Marty Hamm, and niece Laryssa Hamm.
In lieu of flowers, a donation can be made to the Pettengill-Morron House restoration fund.
Donations can be made on the Peoria Historical Society donations page.
https://www.peoriahistoricalsociety.org/donate
A visitation service will be held on Saturday, January 20th from 9:00-11:30 am at Davison-Fulton Woodland Chapel 2021 N. University Street, Peoria, IL.
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