Bruce Wayne Kirk

Bruce Wayne Kirk, 70, passed away peacefully on August 27, 2026, surrounded by the love and memories of those who knew him best. He was born on October 5, 1955, in Waterbury, Connecticut, to Ethel Fitzsimons Kirk and Robert Thomas Kirk. He grew up alongside his four siblings, Jeffery, Cheryl, Bob, and Keith, and from an early age, Bruce had an adventurous spirit and a love for working with his hands. He enjoyed being outdoors, especially fishing and hunting, and as a teenager began taking classes in small engine repair. He also developed an interest in firearms and gunsmithing that would become an important part of his life.

Bruce graduated from Wamogo High School and later took business classes after moving to Colorado. His career was defined by hard work, mechanical skill, and an attention to detail that followed him wherever life took him. He proudly served his country in the United States Navy as a Gunners Mate, serving aboard the USS Kalamazoo and USS Peterson. After leaving the Navy, Bruce moved to Colorado in the early 1980s, where he worked as a maintenance technician for Kodak and later as a machinist for Lockheed Martin.

Bruce eventually combined his mechanical knowledge and lifelong passion for firearms by opening Active Arms Gun Shop in Fort Collins, where he continued to build upon his knowledge and skill as a gunsmith. For Bruce, craftsmanship was more than simply a profession. It was a way of life. He was known for being honest, hardworking, and determined to do things right. He strived for perfection in everything he put his hands to and was always willing to teach anyone who genuinely wanted to learn.

Later in life, Bruce found another place where his talents and passion could truly shine when he joined Union Pacific as a machinist in the Steam program. His work became an important part of the restoration of some of Union Pacific's most treasured locomotives. Bruce played an instrumental role in the rebuilding of the UP 844 boiler project and in the reacquisition and restoration of Big Boy 4014. His knowledge, precision, and craftsmanship made him an invaluable member of the Steam Crew.

When the journey to bring Big Boy 4014 back to life began in 2012, Bruce was one of the very first people his friend and boss, Ed Dickens, called. Bruce quickly became an important part of the team, bringing with him not only exceptional mechanical knowledge, but the kind of reliability and dedication that his coworkers knew they could count on. He had a quiet confidence about him and was never one to shy away from a difficult task. If Bruce took something on, he was determined to see it through and to do it right.

Over the years, Bruce became part of the inner circle of the Steam Team and earned the trust and respect of those around him. He was someone his friends and coworkers could rely on when a problem needed solving, a difficult job needed to be done, or a skill needed to be passed along. He was generous with his knowledge and willing to teach anyone who genuinely wanted to learn. His loyalty to his friends and teammates ran deep, and his commitment to Duty, Honor, and Country was evident in the way he lived his life.

For Bruce, the work was never simply about machinery. It was about preserving something meaningful and doing his part to bring these magnificent locomotives back to life. His contributions to the Steam program, including his work on Big Boy 4014, became an important part of his legacy. Those who worked alongside him will remember not only his exceptional craftsmanship, but also the friendship, humor, loyalty, and good-hearted spirit he brought to the crew.

Away from his work, Bruce found happiness in the things that had always made him who he was. He loved hunting, gunsmithing, gardening, repairing engines, and rebuilding and operating steam locomotives. He loved spending time with his family and friends, including the many friends who became family along the way. Bruce was known for his ability to crack a joke and make someone smile, even while approaching his work with the utmost seriousness. Above all, he was deeply devoted to the people he loved and was a tremendous patriot who carried a genuine love for his country throughout his life.

Bruce shared a long and loving relationship with Janice Lemaire, the love of his life, who preceded him in death. He also leaves behind his siblings, Jeff Kirk, Bob Kirk, Cheryl Schmidt, and Keith Kirk; his nieces and nephews, Tina, Tammy, Robert, Kye, Crystal, Nathon, and Megan; and many close friends who became family. Among those especially close to Bruce were Chris Rambone, Ed Dickens, Mark Fetter, and Randy Denny, Beverly Wooldridge, Cody Wooldridge and their families.

Bruce's life was one built on loyalty, hard work, craftsmanship, friendship, and service. He had a gift for fixing things, teaching others, making people laugh, and leaving everything he touched a little better than he found it. From the machinery he repaired as a young man to the great steam locomotives he helped bring back to life, Bruce left his mark through the work of his hands and the lives of the people fortunate enough to know him.

His absence will be deeply felt by his family, his friends, the Steam Crew, and the larger railroad family. The locomotives he helped restore will continue to move down the rails, carrying with them a piece of the dedication, skill, and spirit Bruce gave so freely. His work may have helped bring these magnificent machines back to life, but it was his friendship, loyalty, humor, and good heart that made him unforgettable.

Bruce Kirk's contributions and spirit will not be forgotten.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, in support of children in need, and/or Tunnel to Towers, in support of veterans and first responders.