Obituary of Kirk E. Kaalberg

Kirk E. Kaalberg, 58, of Bonita Springs, Florida, passed away Tuesday, September 5, 2017, at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics.  Funeral Mass will be 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, September 9, 2017, at the St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Riverside.  Burial will be in the Mt. Olivet Cemetery.  Following the committal service at the cemetery, a time of food and fellowship will be held at the St. Mary’s Parish Center.  Visitation for Kirk will be held on Friday, September 8, 2017, from 4:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. at the St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Riverside. Memorials may be directed to Mount Mercy University Chaplain Fund in memory of Kirk.  Mount Mercy University, 1330 Elmhurst Drive NE, Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52402.  Online condolences for the family may be sent to www.lewisfuneralhomes.com.  The Sorden-Lewis Home for Funeral and Cremation Services of Riverside is caring for Kirk’s arrangements and his family.

Kirk E. Kaalberg was born on July 18, 1959, the son of Frank E. and Betty R. (Lungquist) Kaalberg.  Kirk graduated from Highland High and received his BA in Accounting from Central College, Pella Iowa where he was an amazing athlete of football, basketball, and baseball. He obtained his MBA from Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas.  Kirk started his professional career initially working at Banc of Iowa, then Teleconnect, where he rapidly rose to the highest level of executive management.  From 1987 to 1990 he held senior management positions at Teleconnect and its successor, Telecom*USA.  From 1990 through 1992 he was senior manager of MCI following its acquisition of Telecom*USA.   He was a co-founder of McLeodUSA which was formed in 1992 and completed its initial public offering in 1997. From 1992 through 1999, Mr. Kaalberg served in various executive positions at McLeodUSA, including President of Network Services. After leaving McLeodUSA, Kirk embarked on a new career in private equity with AAVIN in 1999, leveraging his prior 19 years of operational experience in telecommunications, software and networking. Kirk became a Senior Partner at AAVIN.  He was a board member of several companies, including but not limited to Chairman of the Board LimoLink, Coolibar, Inc, Halo Innovations, Inc, Dynamic Broadband Corp, The AdTrack Corporation and Archon Inc.  Kirk’s notable success was not limited to business.  Those who encountered him over the span of his career would agree that his intellect was only surpassed by his great sense of humor and personable character.  Kirk was the most humble, generous man with a huge heart and will be deeply missed by all who knew him.          

Kirk will be deeply missed by his life partner, Renee; his children, Katie Beitz and her husband, Adam, Kourtney Kaalberg and Lindsey Kaalberg; two grandchildren, Alex and Lizzi and one brother, Scott. 

Kirk was preceded in death by his parents.