Kirk William Wilson, 43
Kirk William Wilson, 43, died in Elk Grove, Calif., on June 23, 2009, surrounded by his family after a courageous nine-year battle with brain cancer. He was born March 12, 1966, in Billings, to Beverly Ann (Waters' and Richard Adam Wilson.
He graduated in 1991 from Penn State University with a master's degree in architecture. During his college years, Kirk spent a semester in Germany and studied classic and modern architecture throughout western Europe. He began his career in architecture by completing an internship program at the CUH2A architecture firm in Princeton, N.J., before moving to Washington state in 1992 where he was first licensed to practice.
After working in the Tri-Cities area for several years he moved to the San Francisco Bay Area where he was employed by DES A+E in Redwood City. After obtaining his architecture license in California, he was honored to be selected as a commissioner to assist in administering the California Architectural Supplemental Exam for prospective architects. Kirk prided himself in his work by designing and creating buildings that were both useful and pleasing to the eye. He strived for perfection through attention to detail.
Kirk was also an accomplished musician. As a youth he sang with the Golden State Boy Choir and performed with the Des Moines Metro Summer Opera company. Most recently, he performed with the Sacramento Choral Society and Orchestra. He had a passion for world travel, photography and art.
Kirk was a member of Elk Grove Congregational Church.
Kirk was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, Hurley and Edna Wilson; his maternal grandfather, William Waters; his aunt, Sharon Wilson Demarais; and his cousin Dick Demarais; and his mother-in-law, Jeanette Shirakura.
He is survived by his parents, Richard and Beverly Wilson, of Kalispell, and Springdale, Ark., his maternal grandmother, Bessie Mae Waters, of Malta; his wife, Michele Wilson, and his stepdaughter, Erin King, of Elk Grove, Calif. He is also survived by his three brothers, Charlie Wilson, and Dan Wilson and wife Tia, of Kalispell, his niece, Liv Wilson, of Kalispell, and Dr. Michael Wilson and wife Marci, and nieces, Jayci and Callie Wilson of Springdale; other survivors include his two aunts, Wilma Cleaver and husband Jerry of Sebastian, Fla., and Sheila Nybo and husband Dennis of Richland, Wash.; his uncle, Hurley Wilson, and wife, Myrna, of South Dakota; uncle, Delmar Demaris, of Malta; and his nine cherished cousins. Other survivors include his sister-in-law, Tanya, and husband, Derek Cota, of Concord, Calif.; and brother-in-law, Dwayne Shirakura, and wife, Pam Berkowitz, of Pleasanton, Calif., and their children; and his father-in-law, Takashi Shirakura, retired architect. There are dear friends and colleagues in several states and around the globe who mourn his passing. Kirk had a unique gift of making every effort seem worthwhile and every acquaintance a personal treasure.
Memorial services for Kirk will be held on Saturday, July 18, in California.
The family suggests memorial gifts to Sutter VNA Hospice, 7300 Folsom Blvd., Suite 100, Sacramento, CA 95826; the Elk Grove Community Band c/o Jay Roberts; or the National Brain Tumor Society, 22 Battery Street, Suite 612, San Francisco, CA 94111-5520.