Irv died suddenly on April 25, 2017 at Orange County Hospital in Jacksonville, FL following surgery. His beloved wife Patty was at his side, and their children rushed to Jacksonville to be with her.
Irv’s life as a responsible adult began in Bloomington with the blizzard of 1977-78 when he worked with emergency services to deliver medical supplies, groceries (and beer and cigarettes) to those in need. After graduating from Bloomington High School North, where he distinguished himself as an athlete, he pursued Aircraft Engineering at Vincennes University. Irv spent most of his career in the aircraft industry, in Indianapolis, Atlanta, Mobile, and Jacksonville.
He raised his beautiful daughters, Kristin & Anna, with his first wife Bridgette Frye. Twenty years ago, on March 14, 1997, Irv married Patty Bryan and they started their adventure together in Daphne, AL with 5 daughters (and a son in Tennessee), a delightful blended family of best friends and step-sisters. Abbie Watson (nee Grubb) and Kristen Lauer (nee Kearney), fast friends in grade school, take credit for bringing their parents together.
While in Daphne, Irv worked as a Search & Rescue volunteer with the Coast Guard, helping distressed boaters find their ways safely ashore. He loved everything about life, friendship, family, work, and his “fur babies,” Great Danes Payton and Bagheera. Indicative of Irv’s generous and fearless nature was his oft-quoted comment, “We didn’t come here NOT to do stuff!”
Irvine will always be remembered with love by his devoted wife Patty, his daughters and step-daughters, Kristin Lauer (Jonathan), Anna Bryant (Chris), Abbie Watson (Iain), Mattie Mendenhall (Adam), Nancy Grubb, (Ben Dubois) and son Toby Kearney.
He grew up in a loving family, and is also survived by his sisters Carol Baker (Bruce), Rachel Kearney (Michael Sonnefeld) his dear brother Michael Kearney (Annie), and his partner in all things joyous, brother-in-law Steve Birchler. Passing before him were father Hugh David Kearney (1963), his mother Barbara Irvine Kearney (2005), and his sister Linda Kearney Birchler (Steve) (2013), who have been waiting to welcome him to Heaven with loving arms.
A memorial service will be held at The Funeral Chapel of Powell and Deckard, 3000 E Third Street in Bloomington, at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, May 1, 2017. Irv’s nephew, the Reverend David Schunk will officiate.
Because of his and Patty’s love for dogs, the family would welcome memorial contributions in Irv’s name to the Bloomington Animal Shelter, where “fur babies” are well-taken care of.