Milton R Kirste

Col. Milton R. Kirste, 92, of Nashua, NH passed peacefully on January 9, 2026, in his home surrounded by his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren after a full and admirable life. He was born in Manchester, NH on June 27, 1933 to Arthur C. and Allegra Carey Kirste and grew at 123 Jewett Street in Manchester. Milton was a proud attendee of the city’s schools, working with his father at Arthur's General Store on Spruce Street, and as a carrier for the Union Leader. Milton graduated from the University of New Hampshire in 1955, having been an active member of the track and field team, the SAE fraternity, and as a ROTC cadet. Post-graduation, he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Air Force. Milton married his bride, Evelyn M. Sturtevant in 1957 at First Congregational Church in Manchester. During his 24 years in the military, Col. Kirste served as a security police commander, ultimately finishing his career as director of the security police at the Pentagon. Among his many decorations during his time in service, Col. Kirste was awarded the Legion of Merit and a Bronze Star with Valor. He travelled much during his years in the Air Force -and beyond- including deployments to Korea and Vietnam, totalling 34 countries and territories, and visits to all but two of the fifty United States. After retiring from the U.S. Air Force in 1979, Milton worked as head of corporate security at Exxon and later as head of security for MIT’s Lincoln Laboratory until his official retirement in 1997. In his retirement speech, Milton said, “I plan on being a full time husband, a full time father, and a full time grandfather.” Hallmark to the man he always was, Milt was true to his word. He spent the remaining decades of his life as a devoted, second-to-none caregiver to his wife, Evelyn, a selfless and supportive father to his children, Janet, Sandra, Donna, and Michael, and the number one fan of each of his twelve grandchildren: Kenny, Joanna, Elizabeth, Caroline, Zachary, Emelia, Bridget, Kelsea, Clare, Mary-Grace, Joseph, and John. When Dad wasn’t watching the Red Sox, Patriots, or UNH hockey games, you could count on him to be at one of his grandkids’ many events. Until the very end, Grampa was a constant, reliable mentor and friend to anyone lucky enough to know him, especially his kids and grandkids. To know him was to know goodness itself. Milton was predeceased by his siblings, Barbara (Smith) and Arthur, his beloved wife, Evelyn, of 54 years, and his daughter, Donna. He is survived by his children, Janet Cahall and her husband, Clifton, his daughter, Sandra (Sam) Kirste-Handy, and his son, Michael (Mike) Kirste, his twelve grandchildren, and twelve great-grandchildren. He is already greatly missed and forever cherished.

SERVICES: Visitation will be held on Wednesday, January 14, 2026, 11am-1pm, at Phaneuf Funeral Homes & Crematorium, 243 Hanover Street in Manchester. A Funeral Service will immediately follow visitation at 1pm at the Funeral Home.  Family and friends are respectfully invited to attend. Cemetery Committal and Military Honors will be held on Friday, January 16, 2026, 11am, at Pine Grove Cemetery, 765 Brown Ave in Manchester.