Hugh Donahue Kirk

He is survived by his wife Margaret, his daughters Shelley (Dale), Wendy, Marnie (Blake); grandson Eric (Melissa), granddaughters Carrie (Caine), Karly (OJ), and Alesha; great grandsons Seth, Colby, and Kai; great granddaughters Sophia, Skylar and Brooklyn; his brother Barry (Merilyn); nephews Bruce and Vern and their families; Laurie; sisters-in-law Carol (David) and Kathy (Stan) and their families and his late brother-in-law Don’s family; cousins Reid and Kelly; Colleen and Sharon. He was predeceased by his cousins Cal and Vana, nephew Stephen, son-in-law Ed and brother-in-law and sister-in-law Don and Margaret Anne.

He took his first year of schooling at Boyne School, north of Colonsay. He and his mother moved to Saskatoon during WWll where he attended Victoria School for 3 years and then following his brother’s birth, the family returned to Colonsay where he finished Grade 12.

He then spent the next 10 years away from Colonsay continuing his education and working in the agriculture field. He received a B.Sc. Agriculture at UBC in 1956 and then went to work for the Federal Department of Agriculture in their Plant Inspection Service. Work with them took him north to Dawson Creek and Fort St. John. He then spent a short period of time as manager of the Goldenhope Seed Farm just outside of Fort St. John. Receiving news that he had been accepted into the master’s degree program at the University of Saskatchewan, he returned to Saskatoon and obtained his M.Sc. in 1959. Moving to Prince Albert he worked for the Saskatchewan Department of Agriculture in the Lands Branch and the Ag. Rep. Service. During this time, Hugh built a cabin at Emma Lake, which is still used by the family.

Following the death of his grandfather, John Cheasley, he returned with his young family to Colonsay to farm with his father, brother and eventually with his nephew. Farming with family also gave Hugh the opportunity to work during the winter seasons “off the farm”. He worked with the Cancer Research Centre on the University campus until it closed. Shortly after that he was hired by the Saskatchewan Department of Continuing Education to teach farming courses throughout the province. This program soon changed to WIAAS and later SIAST where he continued teaching and at the time of his retirement in 1992 was Supervisor of Instructors in the Agricultural Division.

While living in town he was on the Town Council and the original Swimming Pool Committee. In 1969 he ran for the Progressive Conservative party in the Watrous Constituency. He joined the Elstow Masonic Lodge #137 in 1963, served as Grand Master and maintained his membership with them receiving his fifty-year pin in 2013.

The Noranda Potash mine was hiring large numbers of workers in 1976 and Hugh sold the house in town and built a Lindal Cedar home on the home quarter which had originally been his grandfather’s land. Living “on the farm” was special for Hugh and where he was happiest. He had been diagnosed with MS in 1968 but was able to continue farming until 2002 when Vern and Michelle bought the farmland. Hugh kept 20 acres surrounding the house for an acreage.

During several winters of travelling south in the 5th wheel, Hugh decided that the shelterbelt around the house would be a good spot for a campground and so in 1994, Painted Rock Campground came to fruition. PRC was a labour of love and hard work by family, friends, and tradesmen from the Colonsay area. The campground expanded and became a number 1 spot for many travellers going to and from Alaska or making a once in a lifetime cross country Canada tour. Hugh greatly enjoyed meeting all the campers and hearing about their travels. He always said the campground was the best idea he ever had.

In 2018 due to health reasons, Hugh moved to the city where he remained until his passing.

The family are grateful to the staff in both Paradise Cove and House 8 in Veteran’s Village at Sherbrooke Community Centre, for the continuing care and support provided to Hugh and his family over the past 4 years.

As per Hugh’s request there will be no funeral service