Kirby D. Black, 63, of South Beloit, IL formerly of the Quad Cities, died Sunday, September 15, 2019 at Javon Bea Hospital, Riverside Campus, Rockford, IL.  A funeral mass will be 10 am Wednesday, September 25, 2019 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 2815 5th Ave., Rock Island.  Visitation will be an hour prior to mass time at church on Wednesday.  Burial will be at Rock Island National Cemetery, Arsenal Island, where military honors will be conducted.  Memorials may be made in care of the family.

Kirby was born in Des Moines, Iowa on June 9, 1956, a son of Richard and Colleen Daniels Black.

Kirby enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1974 after graduating from Harlem High School.  He met the love of his life, Christy Lipa in 1980 while serving in the Navy.  Years later, Kirby and Christy reunited and were married in Bloomington, MN.  Kirby retired from the Navy as a Senior Chief Gas Turbine Systems Technician.  After retiring from the Navy, Kirby worked as a project manager for Eagle Merchandising and retired in April of 2019.

In Kirby's spare time, he enjoyed building model ships.  He also cherished every minute spent with his grandkids.

Those left to cherish his memory include his wife, Christy Black, South Beloit, IL; step-daughter, Erika (Tony) Hernandez, South Beloit, IL; grandchildren, Anthony, Isaiah, Eliyah, Dominick and Mariah Hernandez; siblings, Steve (Dixie) Black, Lexington, S.C., Bruce (Margaret) Black, Scottsdale, AZ, Kathy (Dick) Biederman, Des Moines, IA, Dennis (Peggy) Black, Loves Park, IL, John Black, Lexington, S.C., David (Jeannette) Black, Las Vegas, NV and Theresa (Tom) Hooks, Moline, IL; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents.