Kevin Gene Kinney

“There are no goodbyes for us. Wherever you are, you will always be in our hearts.”

On Friday, March 22nd, 2024, Kevin Gene Kinney, loving husband, father, and grandfather passed away suddenly from a brain hemorrhage at the age of sixty-six while visiting his beloved Mexico.

Kevin was born on June 9th, 1957, in Portage La Prairie, Manitoba to Max and Claudia Kinney. Soon after, his family relocated to Edmonton where he spent his childhood and school years. After graduation from Queen Elizabeth High School, Kevin went on to work for Woodward’s Department Store in the Sporting Goods department. With his passion and drive, he quickly worked his way into a management position. In 1979 Kevin followed his Father’s footsteps and dedicated his life to serving others as a Firefighter with the City of Edmonton Fire Department. Kevin “fought fires and saved lives” until December 2012, when he retired as a widely respected Station Captain.

In 1976, Kevin met his soulmate, Denise Rurka. At the time, Denise was working with his sister-in-law Lana, who, along with Kevin and unbeknownst to Denise, had orchestrated their meeting.  Their courtship consisted of A LOT of fishing, hunting, and camping trips, but in the end, it was true love. Kevin and Denise were married on August 12th, 1978, and celebrated their marriage with a huge party. They later welcomed three beautiful children into their lives: Leah, Meghan, and Sean.

Kevin loved everything to do with the outdoors, but especially loved hunting and fishing. He was an avid fisherman from the time he was a young boy. Always trying to figure out how to catch the next big one. Instead of getting into trouble as young boys can, he spent most of his time in his basement work room, inventing and making fishhooks. This hobby soon developed into a little business for him, lucrative enough to eventually purchase his first truck, a brand-new 1975 Chev.

Kevin’s passion for fishing never left him. He loved dropping a fly line in and around Hinton-Jasper with his grandchildren, salmon fishing on the West Coast with his dear friend Ron and Bill fishing in the Mexican Caribbean with his great friend Andy. Hunting season for Kevin could never come soon enough. He loved to hunt with his kids and dear friends. The smile on his face and excitement in his eyes as he relayed his hunting stories was absolutely priceless. He loved sharing his knowledge with his grandchildren and they were eager to learn. To them, he was their Papa Buck. His love of hunting also led him into the art of taxidermy. He had a great eye and the magic touch, creating the most beautiful taxidermy work one has ever seen.

Denise took Kevin to Mexico, almost kicking and screaming, back in 2005. One cerveza on the beach though and he was sold. Before returning home they had purchased a fractional home. Twenty years later, Mexico was still his Happy Place. It offers us all great comfort that the last days of his life were there, with the love of his life, enjoying the most beautiful Mexican sunsets.

Kevin’s family was his Everything. He is survived by his loving wife Denise, his children Leah (Dustin), Meghan (Ryan) and Sean (Meaghan), and his eight grandchildren, Zachary, Brody, Wyatt, Isaac Kevin, Alexander, Isla, Grady, and Autry, as well as a host of other family and dear friends.

He was predeceased by his parents Max and Claudia Kinney, his in-laws John and Eugenia Rurka, his great nephew Scanlon Kinney and great niece Eirnin Kinney.

We would like to invite you to a Celebration of Life, “Kevin Style”:

Please join us Saturday, August 10th, 2024, at 1:00 pm.
Brule Community Hall
5910 Mountain Rd.
Brule, Alberta

To RSVP, please call or text Denise @ 780-883-9100 or email her @ kevkinney11@hotmail.com

For anyone wishing overnight accommodations, there are many hotels in Hinton.

For anyone wishing to camp there are camp sites available near the hall, at the Brule Community Campground. For booking visit https://letscamp.ca/ and choose Brule Community Campground from the drop-down menu.

Donations may be made in Kevin’s memory to:

Edmonton Firefighter’s Burn Treatment Society
https://www.efbts.ca/

The Stollery Children’s Hospital
https://www.stollerykids.com/

Stars Air Ambulance
https://stars.ca/

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Kevin Gene Kinney, please visit our floral store.