HAROLD HUGH KIRBY

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HAROLD HUGH KIRBY On Thursday, April 4, 2002 at the E.M. Crowe Hospital in Eriksdale, MB Harold Hugh Kirby of Lundar MB valiantly won the most courageous struggle of his life. He peacefully went to heaven to join his two little brothers and his father. He is in a far better place where there are no more struggles but just the victory won for us in Christ. His dearly beloved mother, Marilyn, was holding him in her arms and his two other "mums" Paula Olafson and Aunty Lynda Kirby were there holding her. Ken Olafson was watching over us and supporting us all. Harold had been battling the severe effects of serious pneumonias for the last month, which were complicated by the aftermath of his encephalitis and paraplegia. Harold was born December 14, 1967 in Winnipeg, the middle of three sons, of Ken and Marilyn Kirby. His brothers, Nelson (4) and Kent (1), were killed in a car accident in 1971 which left Harold wheelchair bound for his lifetime. But with our Harold you never knew where he was bound in that wheelchair! He went up and down the hill in front of our house on Harbison Avenue, around parts of grandma and grandpas farm and to the hatchery for fishing. He was definitely out to Lakeside Camp every summer and to many wheelchair sporting events including some wicked games of floor hockey and quad rugby and a number of marathons. Harold always knew that the only thing he couldnt do from that wheelchair was walk! He did about whatever he wanted to do on his own strength or With a Little Help From His Friends. So many wonderful friends through the years; who pushed, lifted or dragged his butt around wherever he was bound to go. Out the window at home to go garden raiding, over snowbanks and through ditches to confirmation classes, on to a bicycle to give it a try, up and down many stairways to parties and such, hitch-hiking to Vancouver and even up on the ferris wheel at Lundar fair. Harold would push himself to whatever limits needed. He went through or around the barriers and boundaries that life or people put in front of him. He did this always with his own special dignity and grace. It was these qualities about him that earned him the honor of being the Easter Seal Timmy for Manitoba in 1980. He represented handicapped children at many events in the province, especially the amazing Timmy Dance at the air force base at Southport, near Portage la Prairie. The people at the base and the whole town of Portage la Prairie treated Timmy and his family like royalty and raised many thousands of dollars through this fabulous event. Spending time with his family was one of Harolds main pleasures in life and was always a high priority with him. We lived between Winnipeg and Lundar for the first years of Harolds life then settled in Lundar when he was nine. Weekend trips to the farm were a regular activity where he saw all of his Lundar cousins, had a huge Sunday dinner at grandmas and got into much fun and mischief. Visits at Nanny and Grandpas in the city meant get togethers with those city cousins and of course more fun and mischief. David was his friend and companion always in Lundar and in Winnipeg shenanigans with Luanne and Dena were highlights of his teenage years. Regular bouts of teasing Heather and playing sock hockey with Jason were all an important part of his life at home. Able-bodied little sister and brother could do some pretty wicked tricks and then take off for the inaccessible regions of the house. Mind you some of the same things continued well into the so-called grown up years. There were many fishing trips with Dad when the serious swimmers, Heather and Mum, had to stay away from the serious, but not necessarily lucky, fishermen. Hunting with Dad and Jason in the fall and attending many sporting events as participant or spectator were favourite things to do. One quick vacation trip with Dad took us to Hamilton to be snowed in at Barrie, see Maple Leaf gardens and the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto and visit a wild life animal farm and aquarium as well as seeing Niagara Falls. Another trip west to see Pat and Richard in Calgary allowed us to see the magnificent Rockies at Banff, the West Edmonton Mall and be almost locked in overnight with the wild animals at the Calgary Zoo. Christmas, Thanksgiving and Easter gatherings with family would bring Harold home to share our family card and games nights which he loves so much and usually won, especially if Trivia questions or quick strategy were involved. Crib and Millionaire and Jeopardy were his favourites of late. When Jeff joined the family the traditions continued especially the fun, the laughs, the teasing and games and the shared enjoyment of sports. Harold was a most wonderful, loving and supportive son and big brother especially since his Dad left us so young. He was a true, faithful and caring friend and person. Many of Harolds lifelong friendships were formed at Lakeside Camp where he was a camper for years and then a camp counsellor. The names are too numerous to mention and too precious to chance missing anyone. The camp was a home and a haven for him where so many memories were made, life experiences shared and wonderful wisdoms were learned while souls and dreams were nurtured. His belief in himself, his familys belief in him and his friends living life to the fullest with him were the gifts given to Harold. His sharing in all of these to the utmost and his exuberance for life were the gifts he returned tenfold. Harold and friends or cousins did all of the things in life people should or shouldnt. They helped him, he helped them. Trips to the states for baseball or music, concerts, movies, parties he did them all! He lived in Toronto and then Thunder Bay with the love of his life. He graduated high school in Lundar with his hometown friends then conquered college at Confederation College and became a RAT (also know as Radio and Television Student). He had a career as a programmer and receptionist at 1290 F0X/Q94 FM radio station in Winnipeg for four years before his illness overtook him. Can you imagine that wonderful smile with those gorgeous green eyes greeting you when you walked in there or hearing that marvellous voice on the phone. We wont say too much about those ------ logs though. When the encephalitis overtook him in 1996 it robbed him of so many things in life but not his ability to live life to his fullest. Even at Health Sciences Centre and then at Riverview he had faithful friends and family who would visit. We played sooooo many games of crib and trivia an watched soooo many hockey and baseball games with him. We also took him on numerous walks or outings in the area. Good friends took him to concerts and hockey games and the staff at 1290 wangled tickets to the Rolling Stones concert in Winnipeg. He did get Some Satisfaction! (continued on next column)

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Apr 07, 2002