Kirk A. Bakke died on August 19, 2013 in Coronado at the age of 79 after a long battle with cancer. Kirk was born on April 19, 1934 in Mayville, North Dakota. His family moved to Denver, Colorado shortly after his birth. He remained there until enlisting in the Navy in 1952. He served for 4 years as an aviation electronics technician, air crewman and plane captain, stationed at North Island Naval Air Station in Coronado.
Upon discharge from the Navy in 1956, he left Coronado and returned to Colorado with his new bride, Sharon, to attend the University of Colorado in Boulder. After college, he entered the home furnishings business in Denver, managing stores for Homestead House, Inc.
In 1973, Kirk moved his family to La Jolla, California to manage the new Carriage House Interiors, an Ethan Allen Gallery. He later opened a home furnishings store in La Jolla and owned a furniture import company. While in the local furniture business, he served on the Board of Directors of the San Diego Home Furnishings Association.
After retirement in 1995, Kirk and his wife moved to Coronado and were avid travelers, visiting more than 99 countries. Some of the highlights of their travels included snorkeling in the Great Barrier Reef, visiting the Medina in Fez, Morocco, and breaking bread with their Jewish tour guide on the Via Dolorosa in Jerusalem.
Mr. Bakke was very active in the Episcopal Church, both in Denver, La Jolla and Coronado. He sang in the choir, served on the vestry, ushered and was a delegate to numerous Diocesan Conventions. He was also instrumental in establishing the Memorial Garden at Christ Church in Coronado.
One of Kirk's greatest passions was volunteering for the Midway Aircraft Carrier Museum, working with both the Safety Team aboard the ship and the Aircraft Restoration Team at North Island. He accumulated over 4,200 volunteer hours. He also was dedicated to the Senior Volunteer Patrol for the Coronado Police Department.."driving" many years for them.
Kirk is survived by his wife of 57 years, Sharon, and four daughters, Beth Bakke and Lauren Brown (Edward Brown) both of Coronado, Jennifer Joseph (Phil Joseph) of Solana Beach and Leslie Bakke (Lisa Cornelio) of New York City, five grandchildren and one great grandchild.
A memorial service will be held at Christ Episcopal Church and 9th & C in Coronado on Thursday, August 29, 2013 at 3:30 p.m. The internment of ashes will be in the Memorial Garden at the Church. A reception will immediately follow at the home of Alan & Casey Aegerter 1417 Tenth Street in Coronado.
In lieu of flowers, a donation is suggested to the Christ Church Choir Fund or Episcopal Community Services.
The family would like to express their heartfelt gratitude to UCSD Medical Center and the Coronado Villa for their loving care.
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