Kirk Thurman was born on August 8, 1970 at Wayne County General Hospital in Waynesboro, Tennessee, the son of the late Terry Lee Wayne Thurman and Karin Marie Fornoff Bonilla.
On December 17, 2016, he was united in marriage to Leslie Smith, who survives.
Throughout Kirk’s life, he became involved in numerous organizations in Hardin County, Tennessee. During his early years, he served as an “associate firefighter” in Hardin County and was the Assistant Scout Master with Boy Scout Troop 34. Since February of 2021, Kirk served as a board member for the Darryl Worley Foundation. He donated his time and service as the electrician for the Darryl Worley River Run from 2003 until they stopped having it.
Upon his father’s passing, Kirk took over as President of Savannah Burglar Alarms, Inc. where he worked for many years in the family’s business.
Up until Kirk’s passing, he worked at Packaging Corporation of America for 27 years and also served as past union president there. He hired in at PCA on December 30, 1996. He worked at PCA – Counce Mill for 24 years and then went corporate for PCA on April 1, 2020. Kirk was very active in his companies corporate responsibilities. He always said he never worked a day in his life because he loved what he did.
Kirk loved to spend time with his family and friends, especially on the Tennessee River. He loved the water and a beautiful sunset. He also loved to hunt and attempted to play golf. Just being around people and enjoying life was his livelihood.
After marrying into a football family, Kirk learned to love the game of football and was a huge fan of his bonus son playing football at Ole Miss.
Kirk was a selfless man with a servant’s heart. He was willing to help anyone at any time. One of his final wishes was to donate his body to a medical education and research institute so they could study and learn something about this vicious disease called cancer. He always said if he can help someone from having to go through what he did, then he wanted that to be his final gift.
Kirk Thurman departed this life on December 31, 2023 at his home surrounded by his family, at the age of 53 years, 4 months, and 23 days.
He is survived by his wife, Leslie Smith Thurman of Savannah, Tennessee; son, Shelton Thurman and his wife Elizabeth of Savannah, Tennessee; daughters, Alexis Thurman Hale and her husband Jacob of Chattanooga, Tennessee and Kaylee Grace Thurman of Savannah, Tennessee; stepdaughter, Allie Grace Chapin and her husband Corey of Central, Alabama; stepson, Hudson Wolfe of Savannah, Tennessee; sister, Tiffany Thurman Jones and her husband Brad of Savannah, Tennessee; half brother, Leslie Fornoff; stepsister, Pam Gray and her husband Pete of Savannah, Tennessee; stepmother, Donna Thurman of Savannah, Tennessee; stepfather, Richard Bonilla of Mobile, Alabama; and granddaughter, Collins Grace Chapin – who loved her “Popsies” dearly.
Upon the family’s request, in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the “Kirk Thurman Memorial Fund” that is set up at Home Banking Company.
