Rev. Donald Robert Kirst, age 90 of Glen Carbon, IL, born September 24, 1934, in Ripon, WI, passed away on Sunday, April 6, 2025, at Meridan Village in Glen Carbon.

Donald graduated from Concordia College in Milwaukee, WI in 1954 and Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, MO in 1959.  He worked as a pastor serving Lutheran churches in North and South Dakota; Parma, Ohio; Mt. Vernon, Illinois; Paola, Kansas; and Darien, Illinois.

Donald enjoyed bible study, playing Schafkopf (sheep head) and board games, solving jigsaw puzzles, sudoku, and playing cornhole. He loved to travel and serve on short-term mission teams, was a great listener, and had a heart for the lost.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Alfred and Ella (nee Dehn) Kirst; his wife of almost 62 years, Geraldine Alice (nee Koenig) Kirst; and two brothers: Gerhard and his wife, Ruth Kirst, and Arnold Kirst.

Surviving are his four daughters: Sherrie (Bruce) Smith of Justice, IL; Donna Kirst of Collinsville, IL; Lorrie Kirst of Manassas, VA; and Tonya (Dave) Peter of Kirkwood, MO; five grandchildren: Kirsten Smith, Kaitlyn (Roman) Winans, Kenton (Audrey) Smith, Ethan Peter and Benjamin Peter; one great-granddaughter, Raelyn Winans.

Visitation will be 5 to 7 p.m. on Friday, April 11, 2025 at Barry Wilson Funeral Home in Maryville, IL and 10 to 11 a.m. on Saturday, April 12, 2025 at Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Collinsville, IL.

Funeral service will follow at 11 a.m. with Rev. Kyle Wright officiating. Burial will be in Holy Cross Lutheran Cemetery, Collinsville.

Memorials are suggested to Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, MO and Lutheran Hour Ministries. They will be received at the visitation or can be mailed to Barry Wilson Funeral Home, 2800 N. Center Street, Maryville, IL 62062.