Kirk Alan Wakefield

Kirk Alan Wakefield, 68, of Grayling, passed away on April 16, 2019. He was born on June 5, 1950 to the late Robert and Shirley (Murdock) Wakefield. Kirk grew up in Milford, Michigan. Kirk started working at a young age at his Uncle Buds gas station. He also worked for GM. He served in the US Army during the Vietnam Era and was a recipient of the Purple Heart. He started his career in law enforcement in 1978, first working at the Howell Police Department. He soon moved to Northern Michigan and joined the Crawford County Sheriff Department. Kirk worked his way up through the ranks. He served as the Undersheriff from 1995-2002. Kirk was then elected as Sheriff, a position he held for 17 years until his retirement in December 2018. Kirk served as command leader of Northern Michigan Mutual Aid Task Force. He served as the Past President of Michigan Sheriffs Association. Kirk received the Grayling Citizen of the Year in March of 2019. Kirk was a Master Mason of the Masonic Lodge of Grayling and Grand Lodge of Michigan and Elf Khurafeh Shriner. After a proposal under the Mackinac Bridge, he married the love of his life, Dawn Marie Smith on May 9, 2015 in Goodhart, Michigan on the shores of Lake Michigan. Kirk enjoyed fishing with his buddies, especially Jimmy, grilling, golf, and building things. He enjoyed helping others, especially the kids, and loved his family the most. Kirk is survived by his wife Dawn; daughters, Amy Renee and Melanie Sue Wakefield; stepson, Grady Lawrence Smith; 6 grandchildren; and 6 great-grandchildren. He is also survived by many dear friends and all of his brothers in law enforcement. Kirk wanted very much to thank all the staff and nurses at Grayling Munson, especially Dr. Mucca. He especially is grateful for his friendships with Terry Wadsworth and Gerald Crawford. Kirk was also very proud of his boys and girls at the Crawford County Sheriff's Department - and is especially thankful for his dear comrade and friend Shawn Kraycs. As Kirk would say: "Live free, stay strong and Iwill always be with you". Visitation will be held at Sorenson-Lockwood Funeral Home on Thursday, April 25, 2019 between 12:00-4:00 p.m. and 6:00-8:00 p.m. Masonic Memorial Service will be held at 7:30 p.m. Celebration of Kirk's Life will take place on Friday, April 26, 2019, 12 noon at Grayling Free Methodist Church with interment to follow at Elmwood Cemetery. Condolences may be sent to www.sorensonlockwood.com. For those that wish to remember Kirk by memorial contribution, please consider Forgotten Man Ministries (Crawford Co.), 3940 Fruit Ridge Ave. NW, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49544 or Sheriff Kirk Alan Wakefield Memorial Scholarship Fund. Envelopes and further information will be available soon at Sorenson-Lockwood Funeral Home, and within online obituary at www.sorensonlockwood.com. Arrangements by Sorenson-Lockwood Funeral Home. ********************************************** Sheriff Kirk Alan Wakefield Memorial Scholarship Fund Providing educational support for Crawford County law enforcement students. This permanent endowment fund at the North Central Michigan Community Foundation(NCMCF) will serve as a legacy and tribute to Sheriff Kirk Alan Wakefield. The fund is being established with an initial $5,000 donation from Gerald Crawford. Mr. Crawford will match an additional $5,000 in donations to the fund, dollar for dollar. To donate to this fund, please make checks payable to NCMCF with "Sheriff Kirk Wakefield"on the memo line. Credit card gifts can be made online at ncmcf.org. Simply navigate to "give",and then search for the fund name. Donations may be left in the care of Sorenson-Lockwood Funeral Home. Donations made at a later date may be mailed to NCMCF, P.O. Box 495, Alpena, MI, 49707. Sheriff Kirk Alan Wakefield Memorial Scholarship Fund North Central Michigan Community Foundation P.O. Box 495 Alpena, MI 49707 989.354.6881 ncmcf.org Link to donate: https://www.cfnem.org/ncmcf/funds/give.html?fund=1050 NCMCF is an affiliate of the Community Foundation for Northeast Michigan. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Kirk Alan Wakefield, please visit our flower store.