Hildegardis C. Van Kirk

Hildegardis C. Van Kirk passed away on Saturday, May 23, 2026, three days prior to her 88th birthday.

Hilda, as she was known, was an amazing woman who early in life lived through war, poverty, death and the unknown all in her younger years, yet she always managed to smile and look for the positive in life.

She was born in Neuss, Germany in 1938 to Christel Tappermann. She was born prior to the start of World War II and the family faced many difficult times in the years to come. Her brother Peter was born two years later and the two would go on to grow up together and experience many life changing events together and sometimes apart. Hilda was a rambunctious, full of energy child, often going against her mother’s decisions, only to end up in “house arrest.” She fondly remembered young friends that she would play with while growing up and loved going to visit her Oma and Opa. The family moved often, going from place to place in search of safety during the war years. She talked about the times she would hear the air raid warnings overheard and the family would have to search for shelter. She remembered her mother sacrificing personal items so her children would have a piece of fruit and milk. One of her greatest early memories was seeing US Soldiers throwing chocolates from the back of their military vehicles to the children in her town. She remembered going against her mother’s wishes and grabbing a candy and eating it. She attributed her long live and work habits to the strength of her mother.

As Hilda grew older, she found odd jobs to help support the family. It was while she was working in a restaurant that she was to meet the eventual love of her life, Tokuji Fukai “Jack” Van Kirk. Jack was a young US soldier stationed in Germany and after a short time, on November 21, 1969, in Kaiserslautern, Germany the two married and would begin a life that would take them around the world on an adventure for the next 50 years.

As a newly married wife, she would have to adjust to military life, living on different bases and not having a place to call home. She would eventually leave her mother and brother in Germany as she set out for her new adventures around the world. After traveling the world for many years, it was then during the 1980’s that they would move to El Paso, Texas and purchase their first home. It was on September 17, 1987, that Hilda would be most proud as she received her United States Citizenship at Fort Bliss, Texas. She would often remember that moment as she “walked under all the swords” as one of her greatest achievements.

She and Jack would make a new life for themselves in El Paso as he continued his military career. It was at this time that she joined her first women’s bowling league and then found her love of golf. Hilda would often spend the mornings bowling, golfing or meeting with the women over breakfast, a cup of coffee and a cigarette. Hilda was an immaculate housemaker making sure there was not a speck of dust in the entire house. She would often stand outside with bug spray killing all the nearby insects. She also grew beautiful roses around the entire house, spending hours working on them. After Jack retired, they would travel throughout the country, playing as much golf as they possibly could and enjoying themselves.

Hilda was the kindest most generous person you could ever meet. She would always tip generously to every worker that came to the house and always wanted to take care of them. She loved and missed her family back in Germany and would often call, message or WhatsApp them.

Hilda was preceded in death by her mother Christel Tappermann, as well as her loving husband Tokuji Fugai “Jack” Van Kirk. She is survived by her loving brother Peter Tappermann and his wife Monika, her nieces Petra Peters and husband Ludo, Sabine Tappermann and her children Jan and Mark Tappermann and Sonja Tappermann and husband Egon. She is also survived by longtime friend and caregiver Frank de Santos and wife Djuana, her “boy” Frankie de Santos who was always visiting Hilda and running errands for her and his sisters Therese and Gabriela de Santos. Special thanks to the caregivers at Serrenity House, especially Flor for always painting her nails, Willy for always making her two eggs perfect every day, and to all the friends and the staff from Metrix Hospice that came to see and care for her. Thanks also to Irene Duran and Sandra Wright for their friendship. She will truly be missed.

Visitation will be on Wednesday, June 10 from 8:30 am – 10:30 am at Sunset Funeral Home - Northeast. A rosary service will be at 9:00 a.m. and a committal service at 11:00 a.m. at Fort Bliss National Cemetery. Services will be streamed online.