John O. Kirkpatrick, former publisher of the Waupun Leader News, died May 2, 2011, at age 80.
He was born May 20, 1930, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, the son of the late John Edward and Charlotte (Cullumber) Kirkpatrick. Following high school in Mount Vernon, Iowa, John graduated from Cornell College with degrees in English and journalism.
In college he played on the football team and was editor of the Cornellian, the student newspaper. Upon graduation, he married his high school sweetheart, Joan (Lyford). Almost immediately afterward, his country called and John was off to Fort Chaffee, Ark., where he served his country proudly as a corporal in the U.S. Army during the Korean War.
When he returned from the service, he was drawn to his “first love,” the local newspaper. He and Jo moved to Waupun where John joined the staff of the Waupun Leader News, eventually becoming the owner/publisher. After 20 years, as local newspaper life began to change, John reluctantly sold the paper and moved to Madison where, for the next 20 years, he was the publication coordinator for the League of Wisconsin Municipalities. His wife, Joan, died unexpectedly in 1986 and in 1989, he met and then married the Rev. Mary (Fisher) Salsbury at First United Methodist Church in Madison.
In the summer of 2002, retirement brought them back to their Clark Lake Cottage to enjoy the beauty of Door County. However, six months later, while walking in downtown Sturgeon Bay on a seemingly routine errand, John was hit by a vehicle as he walked in a crosswalk. The accident caused a severe traumatic brain injury. Following the accident, he had a tough go of it, needing full time care while at home. However, during these years, his enduring courage, his perseverance and his sense of humor was an inspiration to family and friends.
