Kirby Lee Balke, 56, Passes Away in Rural Missouri

Funeral services to be held this Saturday for longtime Saline County resident and U.S. Army veteran.

Apr. 9, 2026 at 2:34am

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An extremely abstracted, out-of-focus photograph of an antique tool or piece of Americana, composed entirely of soft pools of warm color and light, capturing the nostalgic and reflective mood of Kirby Lee Balke's life and legacy.The passing of Kirby Lee Balke, a lifelong collector of antiques and tools, leaves a void in his rural Missouri community.Carrollton Today

Kirby Lee Balke, a 56-year-old resident of rural Marshall, Missouri, passed away on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, surrounded by his family. Funeral services will be held this Saturday, April 11, at Campbell-Lewis Funeral Home in Marshall, with burial and military rites to follow at Ridge Park Cemetery.

Why it matters

Balke was a longtime resident of Saline County, Missouri, and had worked a variety of jobs over the years, including at Truman State Park Marina, which he enjoyed. His passing is being mourned by his family, friends, and community.

The details

Balke was the son of the late Jerry Lee Balke and Judy Pierson Balke, who survives him. He served in the United States Army and was honorably discharged on September 15, 1988. Just two days before his death, on April 5, 2026, Balke married his love of the last 11 years, Shauna Plummer Lash. In addition to his wife, he is survived by four children, 11 grandchildren, a sister, two nephews, and other extended family and friends.

  • Kirby Lee Balke passed away on Tuesday, April 7, 2026.
  • Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, April 11, 2026.
  • Balke married Shauna Plummer Lash just two days before his death, on Sunday, April 5, 2026.

The players

Kirby Lee Balke

A 56-year-old resident of rural Marshall, Missouri, who passed away on April 7, 2026. He was a U.S. Army veteran and had worked a variety of jobs over the years, including at Truman State Park Marina.

Judy Pierson Balke

Kirby Lee Balke's mother, who survives him.

Shauna Plummer Lash

Kirby Lee Balke's wife of the last 11 years, whom he married just two days before his death.

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The takeaway

Kirby Lee Balke's passing is a loss for his family, friends, and the Saline County community, where he had lived most of his life. His service in the U.S. Army, his variety of jobs, and his recent marriage to his longtime love Shauna Plummer Lash highlight the full life he led.