Richard “Dick” Kirk entered this world June 17, 1930. Born at home on the family hop farm in St. Paul, Oregon to Lester and Loretta Kirk, his farming roots soon took hold. He passed away quietly on the same farm he was raised on, the morning of June 14, 2024. He often told the story of his 2 plow horses, Dick and Dan. At 5 years of age, he plowed the fields with them until his Dad purchased their 1st tractor when he was a teenager. Dick attended grade school at the St. Paul Convent and then graduated from St. Paul High School. He excelled in all sports, football, basketball, baseball and track. In 2019 he was put in the St. Paul High School Hall of Fame, along with his teammates from the 1948-49 football team.

After high school he enlisted in the US Army and served from 1951-53 in Korea. He was honorably discharged and returned to St. Paul to work on the farm. Upon returning to St. Paul, he reconnected with friends and started dating a pretty young lady, marrying Joanne in 1954. Together they raised 6 children on the farm, losing their youngest daughter, Martha at just 6 months of age.

Dick received the “Order of the Hop” in 2009, an honor that is bestowed yearly to a select few for recognizable achievement in the hop industry. He and his father were also recognized for their “6-ton per acre” strawberry crop in 1954. Dick grew hops, wheat and many other crops through the years. Now his son and grandson farm that same land, carrying on the legacy that the Kirk’s started when they began farming the land in the early 1870’s, after arriving in Oregon from Ireland. At the time of his death, Dick was the oldest active hop farmer in Oregon.

When Dick wasn’t farming and driving around looking at crops, he enjoyed golfing with the “White Shoe Gang” every Friday, happy hour at the Rodeo Inn or Shamrock and for the last 25 years, drinks at the “Round Table” with his Woodburn Eagle friends. Dick didn’t meet a stranger – everyone was drawn to him – and if he didn’t have your attention, a little finger tap on your leg would bring your attention back to what he had to say. His stories and laughter are legendary and we are certain he is catching up with so many cherished friends and family he hasn’t seen in years.

He loved to travel too. Countless trips to Yakima to visit fellow hop farmers were a bi-annual fun trip he took, often with a friend or more recently, his daughters and sons-in-law. He and Joanne, along with friends, made trips to Hawaii, Australia, New Zealand, the Oregon coast, many, many winters spent in Arizona, and last but not least, 2 memorable trips to Ireland to visit the original Kirk family home and tour the island. Dick was always up for an adventure and loved rooting for the Oregon State Beavers. He enjoyed attending Civil War football games and didn’t miss one until about 10 years ago.

Over the last couple years, as life slowed down, his trips slowed down and he was content driving around his farm and touring neighboring farms throughout the crop year. He always admired the beauty of the Willamette Valley and the goodness of life here. He called it, “God’s Country”. Never one to sit still, you could usually find one of us driving him around to check out the crops and often stopping for a cold one at a local pub – and always running into someone he knew.

Dick was also a proud lifetime member of the St. Paul Rodeo and is being inducted into the St. Paul Rodeo Hall of Fame on July 1st this year. He boasted that he was the last remaining person, still alive, that attended the very 1st St. Paul Rodeo. He was 5 years old at the time and says it was “so exciting and fun to watch those cowboys”. He only missed one St. Paul Rodeo in his lifetime, that being when he was deployed in Korea.

For the last year of Dick’s life, he was in hospice care. His team from Providence Hospice were the most amazing care givers and not a day went by without Dick bragging on them to his family and friends. He was in awe of their kindness.

Dick’s faith was paramount in his daily life, praying the rosary each night before falling asleep and attending mass weekly. Dick’s parents were married in the St. Paul Catholic Church. Dick was baptized, confirmed and married there. He also baptized and raised his children there. His life now comes full circle as we will pray a rosary for him on Monday, June 24th, 11 am at Simon Cornwell Colonial Chapel in Woodburn, Oregon, followed by mass the next day, Tuesday, June 25th at 11 am in the St. Paul Catholic Church, St. Paul, Oregon. Burial will follow at the St. Paul Cemetery, with a luncheon immediately following at the St. Paul Rodeo grounds in the Hall of Fame tent on Malo Ave. (Follow the parking signs to park just south of Malo Avenue in the main parking lot for the Rodeo grounds.)

The things Dick held most valuable in life were his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. “Papa” was not just a grandpa to them, but a close friend as well. As a final gift from God to the family, each of his children and grandchildren got a chance to give Papa a hug goodbye and send him on his way before he took his last breaths. Dick led by example. He was kind, forgiving, strict when he needed to be, gracious when he needed to be, honest, and a good friend to all. If there was any fun to be had, Dick was there. If someone needed a hand with a farming problem, he was there. If someone needed an advisor, he was there. If someone needed to borrow something, he lent it. If someone was sad, he was there to pick you up. If someone was lost or lonesome, he was available. However, if something was broken, unless it could be fixed with duct tape and bailing twine, he was not your guy. However, he could point you to someone who could fix it.

Dick leaves a legacy that his family is proud to carry on so if anyone needs a hand, a friend, a laugh, to go for a drive or have a cold one with, you give one of us a call – we will be more than happy to be there for you. Dick always said life was good and God smiled on him every day to give him so many blessed friends. He was grateful for each of you and loved his life. We will remember his wink, his smile, his hugs and his, “Love ya”, each time he said goodbye.

From his family to all of you, thank you for making his life so special. He is survived by Shannon (Randy) Ernst, Victoria and Allison; Sherry (Neville) Wallace, Joshua, (Stacy) Landis, Jennifer (Adam), Jameson, Hunter and Remi Fowler, Shelly (James), Charlie and Walker Myers, Courtney Landis, Katie (Spenser); Carrie Kirk; Richard (Julie) Kirk, Lester (Julie Ann), Emma and Daniel, Emily (Jake), Loretta, Henry and Rosie Brundridge; Mary (Tom) Artz, Stefanie (Nick), Mylah, (plus one on the way) Brown, and Jon. Dick is also survived by his brothers: Mike, Butch and Joe (Debbie), and cherished nieces, nephews and countless cousins.

In lieu of flowers, you may make a charitable donation in Dick’s name to either St. Paul Catholic Church Steeple Restoration, PO Box 454, St. Paul, OR 97137 or Providence Hospice, PO Box 13679 Portland, OR 97213.

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