article: Robert Kirkland died on Saturday morning in Union City, Tennessee, from kidney failure complications . An entrepreneur and philanthropist who built a national chain of home decor stores and donated $100million has died at age 77. Robert Kirkland, who founded the home decor store that bears his last name, died on Saturday morning in Union City, Tennessee, from complications stemming from kidney failure. Kirkland, who founded Kirkland's home decor stores with his cousin Carl in 1966, donated the money to found the Discovery Park of America education center and tourist attraction in Tennessee. Kirkland's expanded into a chain of more than 300 locations in 35 states. His son Chris said: 'He was a man who loved learning and was always curious about how things worked. 'Discovery Park was really an extension of that curiosity and wanting to instill in children and adults a continued craving for knowledge and understanding.' A memorial service is scheduled for Wednesday at Discovery Park, which will be closed to the general public on that day. Kirkland, who founded the home decor stores with his cousin Carl in 1966, expanded the chain exponentially . He donated millions to found the Discovery Park of America education center and tourist spot in Tennessee . Kirkland was born in Newberry, South Carolina, but he lived in Union City for much of his life. He grew up the son of retailers who owned and operated a Ben Franklin five and dime store. The Kirkland cousins also founded CBK Ltd, which shipped gift and home decor items to customers around the world from a distribution center in Union City, population 11,000. By the late 1990s, Robert Kirkland and his wife Jenny had sold their business holdings and began to concentrate on philanthropic efforts through the Robert E and Jenny D Kirkland Foundation. One of those projects was Discovery Park of America, which opened in 2013. Housed in a futuristic-looking, gleaming-white structure built in a rural field in Union City, Discovery Park has exhibits about natural and regional history, dinosaurs, Native Americans, energy, transportation, science, the military and space flight. An earthquake simulator causes the floor to tremble, a 120-foot glass observation tower offers stunning views and a 50-foot metal replica of the human body includes a 32-foot slide. The 50-acre complex also boasts an old train depot, a century-old church, a rotating grist mill, antique tractors, log cabins and flower gardens. Discovery Park attracted about 300,000 visitors in its first year and it continues to add exhibits and attractions on the strength of Kirkland's $100 million donation. Discovery Park of America opened in 2013 and is housed in a futuristic-looking structure in a field in Union City .
highlights: Kirkland died Saturday from complications stemming from kidney failure .
  He and cousin Carl Kirkland founded Kirkland's home decor stores in 1966 .
  They expanded stores into chain with more than 300 locations in 35 states .
  He donated money to found the Discovery Park of America education center and tourist attraction in Tennessee and it is still expanding today .
  Memorial service will be held on Wednesday at park, which will be closed .
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