Daniel Joseph (Joe) Kirkman, 88, passed away Friday, August 14, 2026, at Stonebridge Health Campus.
Joe was born in Avoca, son of Roscoe and Bernice Kirkman. He began working at age 15 at Nick’s Service Station in Oolitic, Indiana. He left for basic training in the Marine Corps the day following his high school graduation from Needmore. Joe completed basic training, earning the only meritorious award in his platoon, leading to a position in the Marine Security Detachment aboard an aircraft carrier in the Pacific.
Following honorable discharge from the Marine Corps, Joe worked as a lineman for Public Service, then joined the Bedford Police Department, graduating first in his class from the Police Academy. He later went on to teach at the Law Enforcement Academy in Indiana.
While employed as a police officer, Joe served as a patrolman, a detective, and as Chief of Police. During his tenure at the police department, he attended the FBI academy in Washington, D.C. While at the police department, Joe began the ‘Officer Friendly’ program and the first ‘911’ program in the state of Indiana. He served as Vice President of the Chief of Police organization in Indiana, working on a 10-person committee that was awarded millions of dollars for community improvements. Joe earned his master’s degree in community planning from the University of Louisville.
After leaving the Police Department, Joe worked at the Ford Visteon plant for 20 years in a leadership position. His hobby was working on renovations for rental homes. Joe loved basketball and was a proud member of the Needmore High School team. He loved people and was a friend to many in the Bedford area. He was a member of the First Baptist Church of Mitchell.
Surviving Joe in death are his wife Ann, his daughters Missy and Maria, grandchildren Joseph, Anna Maria and her husband Adrian, Alexandra, and Mellisa Anne. He was blessed with three great-grandchildren, Roman, Lucius, and Julian.
Joe was preceded in death by his parents, his mother and father-in-law, Opal and Helen Hall, his son-in-law, Dr. Sam Hall, and his siblings, Rev. Bob Kirkman, Bill Kirkman, Patsy Jackson, Carol Pennington, Tom Kirkman, and Joan Burton.
Cremation has been chosen.
Condolences may be sent to the family at www.chastainfuneralhome.com
