Kirk M. Gessic

Kirk M. Gessic Athol – Kirk M. Gessic, 56, of 739 Daniel Shays Highway, went home to be with the Lord, Sunday, September 22, 2013 at the Quabbin Valley Healthcare with his loving family at his side.      Kirk was born in Cleveland, Ohio, July 5, 1957, the son of James J. and Agatha R. (Meyer) Gessic.  He grew up in Euclid, Ohio where he attended special education schools, graduating from the Brett School in 1979.  He lived in Ohio for many years and since 2000 has resided in Athol.        Kirk worked for GAMA of Gardner, at several sheltered workshops and at Franklin Pierce College.  He had previously worked for Cyahoga County Ohio Workshops for 27 years.  He enjoyed horseback riding, especially Sparkles at Crimson Acres, Dare-to-Dream Program, loved listening to music, especially Elvis and the boogie woogie, was an avid Three Stooges fan, enjoyed attending parties, visiting people and being with his family.   Kirk also loved playing Santa each Christmas for his family and at Quabbin Valley Healthcare.  He loved to sing and dance.    Dogs were a big part of his life, especially Labrador retrievers.  His love for others was huge and often gave affectionate nicknames to those he cared for.        Kirk is survived by his siblings, James J. Gessic and his wife Sandra (Roth) of Mentor, OH and David R. Dexter and his wife Agatha R. (Gessic) of Athol; nieces and nephews, James A. Gessic and his wife Hope (Ulbrich) of Perry, OH, Stephen S. Gessic and his wife Kerry A. (Madda) of Mentor, OH, James D. Dexter and his wife Elizabeth (Hill) of Acton, MA, Brian T. Dodge and his wife Cheryl A. (Dexter) and Maureen S. (Dexter) Cole, both of Orange, David O. Dexter and his wife Anita (LaBarge) and William Thiem and his wife Katherine A. (Dexter), both of Athol.  He also leaves grand nieces and nephews, Matthew J., David R., Alexis L. and Danielle E. Dexter, Jonathan S. and Zachary W. Thiem, Christopher B. Dodge and his wife Jennifer (Bradley),  Brandon M. Dodge and his wife Kimberly (Mullins), Brian J. Rudd and his wife Samantha G. (Dodge),Christopher Youngblood and his wife Emily M. (Cole), Justin LaFond and his wife Heather J. (Cole), Anthony B. Cole, Stephen S. , Jonathan A., Morgan L. Gessic, all of Mentor, OH, Aaron M., Alexandria M. Gessic of Perry, OH; great-grand nieces and nephews, Rebekka and Patrick Youngblood, Preston and Olivia Rudd, Madison Lafond and many dear cousins and friends.      Calling hours will be held Wednesday, September 25, 2013 from 4:00 – 6:30 p.m.  with  a prayer service at 5:30 p.m. at Higgins-O’Connor Funeral Home, 146 Main Street, Athol.  Funeral services held Saturday, September 28, 2013 at 10:00 a.m. at Davis-Babcock Funeral Home in Willoughby OH and calling hours will be Friday, September 27th from 6:00 to 8:30 p.m.  Burial will follow at the Western Reserve Memorial Gardens in Chester Township, Ohio.  In lieu of flowers the family suggests donations in Kirk’s name be made to:  Quabbin Valley Healthcare, Dana Unit, 821 Daniel Shays Highway, Athol, MA  01331.  For further information or to share a memory with the family go to:  www.higginsoconnorfuneralhome.com. $(document).ready(function(){ });