1918
John
2010
John Muir Kilroy
April 12, 1918 — July 9, 2010
John Muir (Jack) Kilroy died on July 9, 2010. He will be remembered as a man who served as a role model to his family and particularly to trial lawyers in this community.
Jack was born April 12, 1918 to James L. Kilroy, a Kansas City lawyer, and Jane Scurry Kilroy, a registered nurse. He graduated from Scarritt Grade School and Northeast High School. He worked his way through KC Junior College and the University of Kansas City (now UMKC), then went to the University of Missouri where he graduated from law school in 1942. He was an avid Tiger sports fan.
World War II started during his last year of law school and upon graduation he joined the United States Army as a private, rising to the rank of Captain. He served in Ireland, England and France focusing on psychological warfare. He landed in France D-DAY +30. He received two Bronze Stars and the Medal of Reconnaissance (French). Weeks after returning from the war Jack married his fiancée, Katherine Lorraine Butler.
Jack was a trial lawyer, recognized as a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers. He was one of the founders, and eventually Chairman of the Shughart, Thomson & Kilroy law firm, which grew to over 180 lawyers with 6 offices in Missouri, Kansas, Colorado and Arizona. In February 2009 that firm merged to become Polsinelli Shughart, one of the largest law firms in the Midwest. He was President of the Lawyers Association of Kansas City; President of the University Club; Chariman of the Della Lamb Community Association; and Chairman of the Heart Association of Kansas City. He was named Sigma Chi Man of the year. He was a member of many Boards including the Missouri Methodist Foundation, Midwest Christian Counseling; and Kingswood. He was a member of the International Society of Barristers; International Association of Defense Counsel; and American College of Legal Medicine; He taught legal medicine at the University of Health Sciences. Jack and Lorraine were long time members of Country Club United Methodist Church where Jack served in many leadership roles.
Jack was an avid, skilled and competitive tennis player. He cherished his tennis friends known as the Rowdy Infighters. Jack was preceded in death by his parents and his brother Jim Kilroy. He is survived by Lorraine Kilroy, to whom he was married for 64 years; sons Jack Jr. and wife Peggi, and Terry and wife Marianne; five grandchildren: Bridget Hoffman and husband Brad, John Kilroy and wife Jennifer, Kevin Kilroy and wife Alyssa, Kyle Kilroy and Katherine Kilroy; and four great grandchildren. He is also survived by his sister, Mary Kilroy Carter of Tucson, Arizona, seven nephews and two nieces.
A visitation will be at the Country Club Methodist Church, 57th & Wornall from 5:30 to 7:30 on Monday, July 12; and funeral service will be at the Church at 10:30 on Tuesday, July 13. There will be a private family burial following the funeral. The family suggests memorial contributions to Country Club Methodist Church or to the Parkinson’s foundation of the Heartland. The family thanks the staff of Claridge Court and Somerset Health Center, the doctors and nurses of Menorah Medical Center, and Grace Hospice for their care, love and support during Jack’s transition to his new life. Share a memory, sign an online guestbook, or express your condolences at www.overlandparkchapel.com
Jack was born April 12, 1918 to James L. Kilroy, a Kansas City lawyer, and Jane Scurry Kilroy, a registered nurse. He graduated from Scarritt Grade School and Northeast High School. He worked his way through KC Junior College and the University of Kansas City (now UMKC), then went to the University of Missouri where he graduated from law school in 1942. He was an avid Tiger sports fan.
World War II started during his last year of law school and upon graduation he joined the United States Army as a private, rising to the rank of Captain. He served in Ireland, England and France focusing on psychological warfare. He landed in France D-DAY +30. He received two Bronze Stars and the Medal of Reconnaissance (French). Weeks after returning from the war Jack married his fiancée, Katherine Lorraine Butler.
Jack was a trial lawyer, recognized as a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers. He was one of the founders, and eventually Chairman of the Shughart, Thomson & Kilroy law firm, which grew to over 180 lawyers with 6 offices in Missouri, Kansas, Colorado and Arizona. In February 2009 that firm merged to become Polsinelli Shughart, one of the largest law firms in the Midwest. He was President of the Lawyers Association of Kansas City; President of the University Club; Chariman of the Della Lamb Community Association; and Chairman of the Heart Association of Kansas City. He was named Sigma Chi Man of the year. He was a member of many Boards including the Missouri Methodist Foundation, Midwest Christian Counseling; and Kingswood. He was a member of the International Society of Barristers; International Association of Defense Counsel; and American College of Legal Medicine; He taught legal medicine at the University of Health Sciences. Jack and Lorraine were long time members of Country Club United Methodist Church where Jack served in many leadership roles.
Jack was an avid, skilled and competitive tennis player. He cherished his tennis friends known as the Rowdy Infighters. Jack was preceded in death by his parents and his brother Jim Kilroy. He is survived by Lorraine Kilroy, to whom he was married for 64 years; sons Jack Jr. and wife Peggi, and Terry and wife Marianne; five grandchildren: Bridget Hoffman and husband Brad, John Kilroy and wife Jennifer, Kevin Kilroy and wife Alyssa, Kyle Kilroy and Katherine Kilroy; and four great grandchildren. He is also survived by his sister, Mary Kilroy Carter of Tucson, Arizona, seven nephews and two nieces.
A visitation will be at the Country Club Methodist Church, 57th & Wornall from 5:30 to 7:30 on Monday, July 12; and funeral service will be at the Church at 10:30 on Tuesday, July 13. There will be a private family burial following the funeral. The family suggests memorial contributions to Country Club Methodist Church or to the Parkinson’s foundation of the Heartland. The family thanks the staff of Claridge Court and Somerset Health Center, the doctors and nurses of Menorah Medical Center, and Grace Hospice for their care, love and support during Jack’s transition to his new life. Share a memory, sign an online guestbook, or express your condolences at www.overlandparkchapel.com
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