Andrew “Kirby” Morse passed from this life to his eternal home in the hands of his Savior Jesus Christ on September 7, 2024. He was born on October 11, 1983, in Seoul, South Korea. He and his sister, Lacey, were adopted by April and Kevin Morse in 1986.

At an early age he learned that the way to people’s hearts was through their stomach. He started his culinary career at What the Heck, bussing tables. However, the head cook saw that he had a passion for making food and promoted him to Pizza Chef. After graduating from Spooner High School in 2002, he followed his passion for cooking. He attended and graduated from Le Cordon Bleu in 2003, a culinary school at Brown College in the Twin Cities. Post graduation, his culinary skills took him to the Kaminsky Chop House-Wisconsin Dells, WI; Rolling Rock Country Club-Ligonier, PA; Lost Tree-North Palm Beach, FL; Greenbrier-White Sulphur Springs, WV; Salut, Interlachen and Haseltine-Twin Cities, MN; and the Polo Club-Boca Raton, FL.

His biggest regret was his career taking time away from his family during holidays, birthdays or special events. Whether it was the miles that separated them or just the nature of his business (holidays meant extra work), he was not often able to come home. Although he was unable to be with them physically, they could always count on a Facetime visit or phone call even from the kitchen. Andrew’s magnetic spirit, his gentle sarcasm, big heart and twinkle in his eye drew people to him. He created many close friendships from place to place, forming their own holiday traditions, and some whom he considered family even “adopted” him into theirs.

Andrew loved baseball which he played, coached and umpired. He enjoyed fishing and deer hunting, but his true passion was golf. After his terminal diagnosis, his closest friends made his “bucket list” item come true by flying him out to golf Pebble Beach and Spyglass in California.

Andrew is preceded in death by his grandparents, Chester and June Peterson and Charles and Louise Morse, Aunt Laura, Aunt Bev, Aunt Patti, Uncle Art, and Cousin Lexi. He leaves behind his parents, April and Kevin Morse; his sister, Lacey Donatell; his two nephews, Bini & Toley Donatell, whom he loved deeply; and many aunts, uncles, cousins and several close friends who he considered family.

Celebration of Life will be on Saturday, September 21, 2024, at the Spooner Wesleyan Church in Spooner. Visitation will be from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. with the service at 11:00 a.m. A luncheon will immediately follow the service.

Last Update: Sep 13, 2024 3:46 pm CDT