Kirk R. Gedde-Nielsen

Kirk Roy Gedde-Nielsen 

4/4/1969 - 4/5/2025

Kirk had a quick & courageous bout with cancer. He was surrounded by family & friends. 

Kirk was born on April 4th, 1969 in Elgin, Illinois. He grew up in northern Illinois before moving to King, North Carolina and meeting his best friend, Mike Marshall.  In high school, Kirk found his love for wrestling. Kirk graduated high school in 1987 and then joined the United States Marine Corps. After the Marine Corps, he took a job at US Airways in Syracuse, NY. This is where Kirk met his wife, Tammy, of 31 years, planted roots, and started a family. Kirk lived free and easy and taught his children it was your character that counts above all else. 

Kirk was a jack of all trades who built several houses where him and his family lived throughout the years. Kirk was always willing to pack up the family and head down south to “raise a little cain” with the whole gang. Kirk had a knack for woodworking, where he made wooden vases with his small apprentices, Emily and Alex, that were showcased on the eastern seaboard. He loved water skiing down the Oneida River while ignoring the “no wake zones” - he was the captain of the “White Trash Fun” boat.  Kirk could make a game out of anything - creating so many childhood memories for everyone. No matter where Kirk was, he lit up the room. If there was a jump, Kirk would hit it first, if there was a dance floor, he was first on it, and if there was a rope swing, he’d do a backflip and set the bar for everyone else all while having a Milwaukee’s Best Ice can in his hand, a cigarette in his mouth, and a tin of Copenhagen in his back pocket. 

Above all else, Kirk’s greatest joy in life were his children and his grandchildren who spectated every crazy idea he mustered up. Kirk’s final venture with his family was starting Country Glazed Donuts & Coffee, where he created a space where customers became family. 

Kirk was predeceased by his grandparents, Mam-Mam and Far-Far and GG Paw and GG Ma, and his father-in-law Jack Valenti. Kirk is survived by his wife, Tammy Nielsen, and children, Emily (Jared) McCarthy, and Alex (Becca) Nielsen, his grandchildren Mia, Waylon, and Walker, his parents Peter and Sue Nielsen, his sisters Leslie (Karl) Brown, Lisa Harding, his brother Kris (Karen) Nielsen, many nieces and nephews, and too many great friends to name. 

A party for Kirk will be held this Saturday, April 12th - please contact the family for details. In lieu of flowers, we ask everyone to crack a Milwaukee’s Best Ice and get your stank on! 

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Kirk R. Gedde-Nielsen, please visit our floral store.