Howard Philip Kirschner

Howard Philip Kirschner was surrounded by love as he left, on July 2nd, 2021 at the age of 78. We’ll do our best to follow his example, living life to the fullest.

Born on December 25th, 1942 to Martin and Sadie Kirschner in Los Angeles, CA, Howard made his younger siblings - Jeff and Judy - laugh, taught them how to iron his shirts and gave them the honor of washing his car.

He began his greatest adventure on July 20th, 1963, marrying Barbara Lee Molter, his friend from the age of 13 and high school sweetheart. With Barbara, Howard built a life from the ground up, and crafted it into something steady and beautiful and full. Howard and Barb grew together, with commitment and understanding and passion and deep, beautiful love. From such a young age, he steered his life skillfully and with such intention.

He graduated from Lakewood High School in 1960, and earned his Bachelor’s degree at California State University, Long Beach in 1965. Howard dedicated 19 years to Xerox in sales and management, then went on to work in home loans for Downey Savings, World Savings, Hawthorne Savings, Washington Mutual, Countrywide and Bank of America. In recent years, he was semi-retired in the reverse mortgage business, teaching and leading professional round tables. Residents of Villa Park for 41 years, in 2016, he ran for Villa Park City Council.

Howard was a natural leader, with charisma off the charts. He had an intuition for people - a willingness to dig deep with each person and an innate ability to really know them. He was always learning and exploring and adventuring. A lover of all sports and cars and cool clothes, and an avid golfer. Little things brought Howard big joy - tending his gardens, listening to James Taylor on long drives, and squeezing fresh orange juice with his grandkids. The Kirschners’ home in Villa Park is a beautiful, blooming, living portrait painted by Howard for his love, Barbara, for them to send the grandkids out into to find berries, avocados, citrus, peaches, even a first ever pluot. His spectacular fertile farm blooms eternally.

His memory is cherished by his two children, Trevor and Stacey, his children-in-law Dionne and JJ, and his greatest prides - his grandchildren Olivia, Ryan, Jake and Jonah. Howard couldn’t have left a deeper mark on this place. He is embedded in everyone he met and his family will carry him everywhere, always.

Expressions of sympathy in Howard’s memory can be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital at: www.stjude.org/donate