9.10.25 Remembering Charlie

I never personally met Charlie but I felt like I knew him based on listening to his podcasts periodically and sometimes regularly. Every day i would get an automatic download on Castbox of his latest thoughts and exhortations about patriotism, the constitution, America, our shared Christian faith, of course a lot of political talk, and even some marriage counseling at times. He was an "every man" . At first I thought he might be superficial but the more I listened to him I realized he really knows his materi

al. He would take questions from students (& sometimes professors too) in  his university visits  at various schools around USA and often schooled them, even though he himself had dropped out of college. It was a a sight to see (or hear). But he was also compassionate and kind and made sure he responded with care and concern, not with mocking or taunting. He wouldn't back down and would even say "good point" here and there when a wise question or comment was made, as if he was learning from the process as well. It was a good give-and-take conversation usually. And even when I heard he had been shot in the neck, I was still hopeful that he would pull through. There wasn't any immediate confirmation of his condition, other than "critical". Sometimes people pull thru critical. Next time I checked back online the first thing I saw was "Charlie Kirk was assassinated" - which usually means death. I scrolled a little further and it was confirmed. Charlie Kirk has died. Now I was shocked, stunned, and a little numb. It makes you feel so helpless. And I thought about his wife and two young children. There's no words at such a point. 

A little while later I am doing the only thing I can think of: at least I can create a web site in his memory to honor him & his family. May God comfort his loved ones at this time, as they mourn, and as a country mourns (many of us anyways. not the time to speak against the dark side here, other than to say one word: imprecatory). 

I will probably keep adding to this site for a while. Maybe I will keep posting news and information about Charlie and his family and the funeral , etc. Or maybe this site will morph into something larger than life that Charlie would appreciate. Hear our Prayer Lord for the repose of Charlie and for his family and loved ones. 

Charles James Charlie Kirk (born October 14, 1993, in Arlington Heights, Illinois; died September 10, 2025, in Orem, Utah) was a prominent American conservative activist, author, and media figure known for founding and leading Turning Point USA (TPUSA) 

Early Life & Education

Charlie grew up in the Chicago suburbs of Arlington Heights and Prospect Heights. He was a Boy Scout and achieved the rank of Eagle Scout. During his high-school years, he volunteered for Senate candidate Mark Kirk and protested his school's cafeteria price increases. His early writing criticizing perceived liberal bias caught attention, earning him a spot on Fox Business and launching his path in political activism .

Career & Influence

In 2012, at age 18, Charlie co-founded Turning Point USA— an organization aimed at promoting conservative principles on college campuses. He led TPUSA as its executive director and later CEO of its political arm, Turning Point Action. The group grew rapidly, backed by notable donors and expanding its reach to thousands of U.S. schools 

Kirk also hosted The Charlie Kirk Show, a daily radio program launched in 2020, and authored several books including Campus Battlefield (2018) and Right Wing Revolution (2024) .

 He became a key advisor in conservative circles, particularly aligned with former President Donald Trump, who appointed him to positions such as the Air Force Academy Board of Visitors 

Personal Life & Family 

Charlie was an evangelical Christian and married Erika Frantzve (Kirk) in May 2021. Erika—crowned Miss Arizona USA in 2012—is a podcaster, creator of the faith-based apparel brand PROCLAIM, host of Midweek Rise Up, and founder of ministries like BIBLE365 and Everyday Heroes Like You. She holds degrees in political science and international relations, plus advanced theological credentials, including a doctorate in Biblical Studies from Liberty University .

Together, they had two children: a daughter born in August 2022, and a son in May 2024. In keeping with their wish for privacy, the couple did not publicly share the children’s names or faces .

Tragic Death 

On September 10, 2025, at age 31, Charlie was shot and fatally wounded while speaking at Utah Valley University during his “American Comeback Tour.” The attack, captured on video, came from a rooftop roughly 200 yards away. He was transported to a hospital but died later that day. His death has been widely described as politically motivated, and investigations remain ongoing...