David Henry Adam Kirk

David Kirk, who was born and raised in the Comox Valley, journeyed peacefully home in the early morning of August 30th 2010, at Casa Loma Seniors Village. He was a successful businessman, a loving family man and grandfather. He was predeceased by his parents, Geoff and Kathleen Kirk, brother John, and wife Ruth. He will be missed by his daughter Joanne (Pete) Paulson, grandsons Luke and Adam Paulson, and daughter Marion (Bryan) Hill, his brother Robert (Eunice) and sisters Margaret Moffat and Pamela Kirk as well as many nieces and nephews. Reverend Brandon will lead a Celebration of David’s Life at the Native Son's Hall in Courtenay on Friday September 10th at 4 pm. The doors will open at 3:30 and an open house reception will follow.

David’s schooling was at Duncan Grammar School, St. Michael’s University School, Victoria and at Courtenay High School. His first job was with Elk River Timber as a log scaler. Later he worked for his dad who had the Home Oil Distributorship and Kirk Electric on their home property by the river at the foot of 17th Street in Courtenay. Geoff’s Home Oil Distributorship terminated and the Kirk Electric building was moved to 10th Street. David trained and received his pilot’s licence and was a “flying salesman” for Kirk Electric. Eventually he bought out his dad, changed the name to Kirk Auto Electric, built a new building around the corner on England Avenue and later opened locations in Campbell River and Port McNeil.

He was involved as a community man with memberships in the Jaycees, Rotary Club, Masons and later the Shriners. As a young man he enjoyed hunting with his buddies for deer and for ducks with the retriever he trained. David was also a member of the Mt. Beecher Fanny Dunkers Ski Club. On many winter weekends after work on Fridays a group would drive up to the Forbidden Plateau as far as they could, unload their gear and strap sealskins onto their skis. They would make several trips hiking up to the cabin on Mt. Beecher and skiing back down to get their supplies so they could ski as many runs as possible on Saturday and Sunday before skiing their final run down to the car. Business and family filled his time but he always enjoyed best the times he went skiing with his 2 girls. By then Forbidden Plateau had the old Lodge and T-bars and later the New Lodge and chair lift and David was involved on the board of directors of the non-profit organization.

Many of his hunting buddies were also his fishing buddies and the companionship with them was primary; the fish they caught were a bonus. As he was building his business his mentor Earl Corbett would come from Calgary to fish and David would learn from Earl’s expertise how to manage a successful auto-parts business.

In later years he and Ruth travelled together enjoying holidays with their daughters as well as many trips on their own. Palm Springs area with its golf courses was a favourite wintering place to take their 5th wheel and make it home from January to March.

David was a gracious host and a kind and gentle man who loved his work, his family, his dogs and his cat. We miss him with his friendly welcoming smiles.