Joseph "Joe" Pennell Kirk passed away peacefully on Thursday, November 11, 2021, at his home in Hyde Park, New York with his family at his side. He was predeceased in 2015 by his beloved wife of 60 years, Anna Catherine (Caul) Kirk of Churchville, PA. Joe was born in Ithaca, NY February 28, 1933, the son of Joseph Stanley and Marian (Sharpless) Kirk. He graduated from Council Rock High School in Newtown, PA in 1951, where he and Annie were voted Class Couple. He attended Pennsylvania State University for 1 year before serving in the U.S. Army in Japan. Upon completion of his military service, Joe returned to Penn State earning his Bachelors of Science in physics. He obtained his PhD in optics from the University of Reading in England and continued his long and distinguished career at IBM, with a particular focus on photolithography. Upon his retirement in 2001, Joe pursued his varied interests from the house he and Annie built on a hill with views of the mountains to the west. Enjoying the challenges of fine woodworking, perfecting his unique rocking chair design, helping to save the American Chestnut trees by repopulating them on his property, studying air currents while flying his model gliders among the raptors native to the Hudson Valley, and volunteering with Meals on Wheels of Hyde Park for a number of years, were just a few just a few of Joe's favorite projects. These activities always were second to his great love for Annie and his devotion to his children. Joe is survived by his daughters Catherine Reid (John) of Baltimore, OH; Pamela Kirk (John Violette) of North Granby, CT; Beth Wright (Jeff) of Wappingers Falls, NY; and son, Joseph Pennell Kirk Jr (Janelle Bryant) of Bridgewater, NJ. His pride in his children was matched only by his pride in his eight grandsons, William Violette (Maude Havenne), Nathaniel Violette, Daniel Hofman (Lacey Slater), Elan Hofman, Kirk Hofman, Grafton Kirk, Pennell Kirk and Thatcher Kirk, to whom he has passed down his sense of fairness, integrity and curiosity. Joe is survived by his brother Robert Kirk (Elaine) of St Paul, MN. Joe was predeceased by his brother Edward Kirk of Scarsdale, NY. As Joe had wished, there will be a private gathering of his children to scatter his ashes and a memorial celebration at a date to be set later. Memorial donations may be made to either Meals on Wheels of Greater Hyde Park (1 Church St, Hyde Park, NY 12538) or to The American Chestnut Foundation (acf.org). 501 North Merrimon Ave., Suite 115 Asheville, NC 28801.