Obituary of Kirk Campbell Spickelmire

Kirk Campbell Spickelmire was born on December 15, 1977 in McCall, Idaho. He was the sixth child born to Jerold (Jerry) and Judy Spickelmire. He attended Capital High School in Boise. 

He was not always a good boy (as a child, deficits in obedience, good manners, and tidiness were brought to his attention regularly)...but he was definitely a good man, with an open heart, generous soul, and protective nature. Many children learned to ride a bike only because he ran along beside them and would not allow them to give up when they were discouraged. Many fussy babies settled down while Kirk bounced and talked to them. He was always a champion for any kid who was struggling or lost. The debate still continues on whether he was a “good influence” or a “bad influence” on the next generation, but for every kid that was ever in his influence, he was undoubtedly a source of fun, reality-checks, and unflinching certainty that there was a way forward. Although he did not marry or have children of his own, he WAS a family man because he was a “funcle” to all.  

He explored a lot of jobs in his young “adultish” years. Ultimately, he settled on becoming a truck driver, logging over four million miles. He was an adventurous traveler–passionate about many things (including NOT going to California, ever again). He was in his zone when he was headed down the highway with his dog beside him. Often he would have an audio book playing or a chatty conversation going on over his headset while he was racking up those miles. 

On Saturday, June 10, 2023, just after he pulled his truck into a Boise truckstop, he died of a heart attack while talking on the phone to his brother, Dick. He was just 45 years old. Suddenly, he was gone, and the world is the poorer for it. His stories offered an unending supply of humor and buoyancy in a world that wants to drag people down. While it was unpredictable whether he would enter the conversation as a philosopher-poet, class clown, or political pundit–he always had something to say. His stubborn pride and his unassuming humility were never mutually exclusive. His generosity of spirit and fierce loyalty to his friends and family were absolute. He lived his life at the intersection of laser-like logic and lazy-like habits–that was part of his charm. His twinkling smile and contagious laughter will be missed by those who loved him. 

Kirk is survived by his mother, Judy Spickelmire, and siblings Mona “Lee” Slichter (Todd); Richard “Dick” Spickelmire (Lorri); Tena Rogers (Scott); Jena Morgan (Tony); J.R. “Rod” Spickelmire; and his French Bulldog, Ruby.  He was a favorite among his nieces and nephews: Emilee and Sam (Jena’s kids): Tim (Dick’s kid); Christina, Caleb, Jeffry, Ethan, Andrew, and Ryan (Lee’s kids). He was also very close to his brother-from-another-mother, Jeremy Orm and his children Michael, Logan, Tristan, and Declan… plus any other kid who needed shelter from a storm.

He was preceded in death by his father Jerry Spickelmire, sister Jennifer Spickelmire; and grandparents: Dick and Hazel Spickelmire and Paul and Leola Campbell.    

Family and friends will gather at Flahiff Funeral Chapel in Caldwell to celebrate Kirk’s life on Saturday, June 17, at 10 AM. Burial will follow at Crown Point Cemetery in Cascade, ID.

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