John Matthew Kirkwood, 59, of Holcomb Avenue, Butler, died at 9:32 a.m. Friday in Butler Memorial Hospital.

Born in Butler, March 13, 1951, he was the son of the late Kenneth G. Kirkwood and Jennie M. Tirk Kirkwood.

John was a 1969 graduate of Butler High School. He then graduated from Bob Jones University in South Carolina in 1973 with a bachelor of arts degree. He then became an ordained Baptist minister.

John opened the first Subway restaurants in Butler and then spent the past 15 years employed at Armco, now AK Steel.

John is survived by one son, Joel Martin Kirkwood of Butler; his ex-wife, Kathryn Kirkwood of Butler; one sister, Margaret "Peggy" Morando and her husband, Donald, of Butler; one brother, Kenneth E. Kirkwood and his wife, Joyce, of East Butler; numerous nieces and nephews; and his companion, Sharon Ehrman of Butler.

In addition to his parents, he also was preceded in death by one son, Jared Michael Kirkwood.

<B>KIRKWOOD </B>— Friends and family of John Matthew Kirkwood, who died Friday, May 7, 2010, will be received from 6 to 8 p.m. today at the <B>Thompson-Miller Funeral Home</B>, 124 E. North St., Butler. Funeral services will follow at 8 p.m. today at the funeral home with the Rev. Roger Nuerge of Concordia Lutheran Home officiating. Interment will follow Tuesday at the Butler County Memorial Park.Information and a private guest book are available at www.thompson-miller.com.