Margaret Ann “Meg” Kirkland, 76, of North Platte, passed away on May 20, 2025, surrounded by her family at Bryan East Medical Center in Lincoln. She was born February 24, 1949, in Norfolk, NE to John and Mabel (Zwingman) Wirges of Petersburg, NE.
Meg graduated from St. John the Baptist High School in Petersburg with the class of 1967 and the Grand Island School of Business in Grand Island in March 1968 with a Secretarial Degree. Upon graduation, she started working at Hansen Employment & Counseling Service as a secretary and later worked at Grand Island United Way as a secretary and bookkeeper.
Meg married Kraig Kirkland of Grand Island on July 20, 1974, in Petersburg. They had three children: Clint, Debra, and Amy. The couple resided in Grand Island until he was transferred to North Platte in 1976 with the Union Pacific Railroad. She was a stay-at-home mother for several years and then attended Mid-Plains Community College and started working as a bookkeeper for Kelley, Scritsmier & Byrne Law firm. Meg retired in 2009 and worked for them occasionally on an “as needed” basis for several years after.
While the children were in school, she was very active in Parent Teacher Associations and High School Booster Club, holding leadership positions in both organizations. Meg received a lifetime membership in Nebraska Parent Teacher Association. She helped with various school activities including field trips and was also a co-leader for two 4H clubs.
Meg was on the Miss Nebraska State Board of Directors and a member of North Platte RSVP and enjoyed volunteering at Great Plains Health where she started helping at the information desk and then transferred to the gift shop. She bowled on at least five different leagues during her bowling years and served as Association Manager since 2019.
Meg was always knitting and working on some project, whether that be the many sets of baby washcloths that she gifted, the pocket prayer cloths for hospital residents, or afghans for her children and grandchildren. She loved to travel, cruising both the Western and Eastern Caribbean, Alaska, Panama Canal, and Mexico. In 2022, Meg traveled to Ireland to watch her home state Huskers play football.
Those that precede Meg in death are her husband, Kraig; her parents; and brothers-in-law, Ken Kirkland and Jerry Stoltenberg.
Meg is survived by her children, Clint of Lincoln, Debra (Eric) Houser of Kearney, and Amy (Brandon) Dorenbach of Lincoln; four grandsons, Austin (Bailee) Houser of Gibbon, Tanner Houser of Kearney, Jackson and Easton Dorenbach of Lincoln; great grandson, Connor Houser; brother, Larry (Joanie) Wirges of Petersburg; brothers-in-law, Karl Kirkland, Kevin (Helen) Kirkland, Kohl (Amanda) Kirkland; sisters-in-law, Kalene (Maurice) Sherffius, Kim (Ron) McBride, Karen (Todd) Rohweder, Lisa Kirkland; several nieces, nephews, and other family.
Memorials are suggested to the family for future designation and online condolences may be shared at www.adamsswanson.com.
Mass of Christian Burial will be on Wednesday, May 28, 2025, at 10 AM at Holy Spirit Catholic Church with Father Sagar as Celebrant. Burial will take place at Floral Lawns, South of North Platte. Visitation will be on Tuesday, May 27, 2025, from 12 PM to 7 PM with family present to greet friends from 5 PM to 7 PM at Adams & Swanson Funeral Home.
Adams & Swanson Funeral Home is coordinating arrangements.