EFFINGHAM, Ill. – Peoria County Farm Bureau (PCFB) members were saddened to learn of the Nov. 11, 2024, passing of Patrick Kirchhofer, 60, who for the past 29 years served as their leader. Kirchhofer had retired from the position effective June 1, saying he had planned to return to his family’s farm in Effingham County.

An obituary from the Johnson Funeral Home, of Effingham, stated that Kirchhofer had passed away at St. Anthony Memorial Hospital in St. Louis. He graduated from the University of Illinois in 1987 with a Bachelor of Science degree in agriculture. Kirchhofer spent almost his entire working career at the Illinois Farm Bureau, working in several counties before settling in as PCFB manager.

According to his obituary, Kirchhofer loved the farm, especially preserving the natural environment and habitat. He was continually planting, mulching and caring for trees, bushes and native wildflowers to protect the land and soil. He also found great enjoyment in collecting and restoring old toy tractors, trucks and other farm equipment.

“I’ve always been active in the family farm operation. I was involved in 4-H and FFA and I had a flock of sheep. We still have beef cattle on the farm. My dad and my brother have the interest in the farm, and I help out by building fences and tending the cattle. We still grow corn, soybeans and wheat, along with hay for the cattle,” Kirchhofer told Farm World in May.

He also said that upon his retirement, he was looking forward to devoting more of his energies to the family farm, where he had helped plant around 600 oak trees and more than 200 black walnut trees, along with shrubs and plants for pollinator and wildlife habitat. “I really enjoy the wildlife on the farm and establishing the habitat. In addition, we try to use as many conservation practices as we can,” Kirchhofer said, just days before his retirement.

Dozens of Kirchhofer’s friends and business associates wrote eulogies to the late farm bureau leader on Johnson Funeral Home online guest book and on a PCFB post.

“In Patrick’s early days at Stark County Farm Bureau, we saw his professionalism and love of agriculture develop. As board members, we were happy to see him succeed even more as a spokesman for farmers in Peoria County and Central Illinois,” wrote Terri Campion, of Vero Beach, Fla. “He will be missed.”

According to former PCFB board member Scott Lawson, of Chillicothe, Ill., “(Kirchhofer) was a great representative for the farming community and a strong advocate for ag education. Most people knew about his calm and relaxed demeanor, but he also had a great sense of humor. He was a caring person who strived to make our community a better place to live. He was thoughtful and did unexpected things to let people know he cared.”

A brief statement from the PCFB, now managed by Charlie Hensley, said that “Patrick was a pillar in the farm bureau community. He devoted his life to agriculture, and to serving others. He will be missed by all. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Patrick’s family.”

Following a May 21 retirement party hosted by the PCFB, Kirchhofer reflected on what he would miss about his job as PCFB manager. “I think what I’ll miss most will be the people, and helping people. There are always a lot of diverse questions that come into the farm bureau office, and I think that is what I enjoyed the most. You never know what you might be asked, about anything from gardening to fruit trees to crop production. I love to learn about new things, and if a question came in that I didn’t know the answer to I would research it myself to provide an answer and to educate myself,” he told Farm World.

Kirchhofer is survived by his mother, Naomi, of Shumway, and siblings Stan, Darwin (wife Linda), and Joy Ealy, also of Shumway. He was preceded in death by his father, Norman, in November 2023. Funeral services were held at Faith Lutheran Church in Shumway, where Kirchhofer made his home. Online condolences may be shared at www.johnsonandsonsfh.com.