Robert William Kirkness passed away suddenly at home Thursday June 16, 2022. He was born January 4, 1952 in Sudbury Ontario the son of William Frank Kirkness and Diane Kirkness (nee Lecuyer). He had one younger sister Sharilynn Dale Kirkness (Kenneth Moss). He attended the University of Western Ontario and graduated with a BSc in Mathematics and then the University of Guelph and graduated with both a BSc in Wildlife Biology and a P.Eng in civil engineering. He worked most of his career in water management in Saskatchewan.On February 22, 1985 he married Suzanne Downie born October 25, 1952 (nee Downie) a registered nurse from Hamilton. They lived in Yorkton, and then Moose Jaw and then in 2019 retired to the Bay of Quinte area in Ontario on Lake Ontario.
Rob is survived by his mother in Dowling Ontario. Rob is survived by his wife Su and their three children: Jeffrey Gordon Downie (Krista Sheppard), Katharine Elizabeth Kirkness and Michael William Harry Kirkness (Andrea Burnham). Rob was Grampa to seven grandchildren in Kingston, Ontario and Erikson, British Columbia; Dylan Downie, Taylor Downie, and Jakob Downie; and Madeleine Kirkness, Samuel Kirkness, Jude Kirkness and Emma Kirkness. Rob is survived by his two nephews on the Kirkness side, sons of Shari and Ken Moss; Tyler (Michelle Giles) and children Madison and Logan. Andrew (Veronique Niesing) and children Jacob and Leo. Rob is survived by a large family on the Downie side. Su has two sisters Sandra Jean Ferguson-Escott (Wally Escott) and their three children Alexander Ferguson (Michelle Durdle) Joshua Ferguson (Kate Leppington) and Ashey Escott McDonald (Teddy McDonald) and eight great nieces and nephews Morgan, Ainslie, and Charlotte Ferguson, Evelyn, Olivia, and Jaxon Leppington William Ferguson and Monty McDonald; and Janet Lynn Hainsworth (Tony Volpe) and children Robert Hainsworth (Tabitha Lewis) and Mary Hainsworth (Richard Bremner). Su has one brother James Alexander Downie who has two children Nicole (Luke Antrim) and James Jr. (Courtney Suttie) with four nieces Riley, Emersyn, Finnley Antrim and Ava Downie and one nephew Beckett Antrim. He was predeceased by his beloved father Frank Kirkness and father-in-law Harry Downie and mother in-law Mary Downie.
Retirement suited Rob. He had a very full and fulfilling life, but it ended much too soon. We will miss him dearly.
Arrangements have been entrusted in Wartman Funeral Home, Napanee. A Celebration in memory of Robert to be held at a later date.For those who wish to make a memorial donation please choose a nature related charity. Rob supported Ducks Unlimited, the Canadian Wildlife Fund, Nature Conservancy and Sandy Pines Wildlife Centre (8749 2, Napanee, ON K7R 3L1). Online condolences may be forwarded through wartmanfueralhomes.com
