Obituary: Kirsch, Edwin A.
Age 94
(Age 94) July 12, 1921 - July 16, 2015 Ed went peacefully to heaven while sleeping on the morning of July 16, 2015.
Born in Spokane, Washington, and living his entire life within a few blocks of his childhood home, he truly was at home in the Spokane Valley.
He was a gentle man, and a genuine person who was happy with the simple things in life.
A wonderful husband, father and grandfather, he enjoyed his family, friends, animals, and home.
He was a lifelong lover of music, and a very talented French horn player.
From his days playing in the band of the Army Air Corps, The Spokane Aerie Eagles Band, and many years of the “Ham on Regal” productions at Ferris High School, he loved playing his music.
In his earlier years, he played softball on recreational teams, and later in life enjoyed bowling with his team.
His gardening skills were unsurpassed for growing surplus crops of vegetables and berries.
He was also quite a recycler of most things wood, long before recycling was the thing to do.
His famous “6th Avenue Lumber Yard” had just about everything one might need for a project involving scrap wood, and he happily supplied many of his family and friends with materials for backyard projects over the years.
Ed married his wife of 63 years, Dawn Marie McConnell on May 1, 1948.
Dawn preceded him in death in 2011.
Ed and Dawn are survived by their three children, Kathy DeJong, (Mark Lanz) of Spokane, Barbara McGee, (Bob Lauer) of Reno, NV and Ken Kirsch (Amy) of Chewelah.
He also leaves five grandchildren: Jason DeJong, Lindsey DeJong, Sean McGee, Brad Kirsch and Keith Kirsch, and seven great-grandchildren: Haley and Drew DeJong, Tyler, Madison, and Avery DeJong, and Jordan and Kiah Kirsch.
Ed was an Armed Forces veteran and served his country in the Army Air Corps during the WWII years, and was an employee of the U.S.
Postal Service in Spokane for 33 years.
He was lucky to be among the few people who live long enough to actually say they were retired longer than they were employed!
He was a member of the Edgewood S.C.O.P.E.
chapter of community police services for many years following his retirement and gave countless volunteer hours to help make his east Spokane neighborhood a safer family place, as it was when he and Dawn built their home there in 1955.
He had a wonderful sense of humor and a great sense of “realness”, always calling things as he saw them, and could be found most happily smoking a cigarette and enjoying a good whiskey, which in later years, he fondly referred to as his “medicine”.
Ed leaves his children, family and friends very saddened by his loss, but joins many more loved ones in heaven waiting to celebrate and welcome him home.
We will miss you Dad and Grampa, and we will see you again on the other side.
Til’ then, We love you.
Ed and Dawn had both requested that no formal memorial services be held, and their family will have a remembrance service at a later date.
If you wish to make a memorial contribution in Ed’s name, we would suggest the Edgewood Chapter of S.C.O.P.E.
or any animal shelter or humane society of your choice.