YOUR AD HERE »

Hayden pastor recovering after kidney transplant

Matt Stensland
Doug Zirkle preaches in March at the Mission of Grace Baptist Church in Hayden.
Doug Zirkle preaches Sunday at the Mission of Grace Baptist Church in Hayden.

— Mission of Grace Baptist Church Pastor Doug Zirkle is recovering after undergoing a successful kidney transplant surgery Wednesday.

“The surgery was successful, and Doug’s new kidney is functioning well so far,” the church wrote on its Facebook page.

Zirkle received the kidney from Mike Markle, who is a member of the church in Hayden.



The operations took place at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. Markle is expected to be released from the hospital Saturday or Sunday.

Zirkle and his wife, Lisa Zirkle, are expected to remain at the hospital for at least three weeks so doctors can closely monitor him and the antirejection medications he is taking.



Mission of Grace Baptist Church elder Kevin Kleckler said updates about the surgeries and how Zirkle is doing will be posted to the church’s Facebook page.

To reach Matt Stensland, call 970-871-4247 or email mstensland@SteamboatToday.com


Support Local Journalism

Support Local Journalism

Readers around Steamboat and Routt County make the Steamboat Pilot & Today’s work possible. Your financial contribution supports our efforts to deliver quality, locally relevant journalism.

Now more than ever, your support is critical to help us keep our community informed about the evolving coronavirus pandemic and the impact it is having locally. Every contribution, however large or small, will make a difference.

Each donation will be used exclusively for the development and creation of increased news coverage.