John Kirkhoff was born in Indianapolis, Indiana in 1923. He went through elementary School, High School,
and College there, graduating with a B.A. degree from Butler University in 1949. Prior to that he served as a
Private in the 29th infantry Division, from 1942-1946, participating in the Normandy , D-Day landing, June 6, 1944.
John grewup in Irvington, a small community, that had spacious tree-lined streets, and where his dad, louis Kirkhoff, played football for Butler, and later became an Executive,
with indiana Bell Telephone Company. His mother, Ruth, was a teacher, and Phi Beta Kappa. The Kirkhoff
family consisted of the parents and four children; Barbara, Esther, Jim, and John. John's brother Jim was a highly decorated WWII, B-24 pilot, and later, Corporate Secretary
of a large corporation.
John married Jo Ann Brown in 1949, and they moved to California in 1950. For several years John was a History and English teacher and coach;
he joined the Aerospace Industry in 1956, and was a contract negotiatior until 1956.
John has been writing poetry since childhood, after an inspirational visit to James Whitcomb Riley's
(The Hoosier's Poet's Secretary). This happened in early boyhood. John has been writing for publication since 1978, and
has won various awrds for his poetry.
I believe that poetry through metaphor and imagery should transform the ordinary into the extraordinary. Also that poetry is a true form of inspirational and pragmatic communication.
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