James Donald "Donnie" Kirk of Knoxville born in 1939, passed away at the age of 85 on February 17, 2025. Even though it wasn’t the blaze of glory he told us all to expect, he was content when he died peacefully after a brief period of illness. 

Donnie was known for his love of family and spent many days and weeks traveling across the US, Canada, and Mexico, often driving a motorhome full of hockey players. Donnie and Alice built a wonderful life together full of adventure and generosity. Alice and Donnie began hosting a 4th of July party in 1966 that grew into an annual reunion for generations of friends and family. He loved any reason to celebrate and share wonderful stories with both new and old friends. His unparalleled knowledge of art and geography came from his and Alice’s travel experiences as a couple and with their family. This particularly came in handy later in life when playing trivia games. He worked hard and played hard. He grew up playing football, baseball, and basketball but was a terrible swimmer. He was an avid hunter and fisherman, he raced cars and boats and was a fan of both men’s and women’s UT athletics, he loved to coach his sons in sports and taught his grandchildren how to fry okra and clean fish. He restored historic homes. He loved all kinds of art from original bluegrass music to French Impressionism.

Donnie was often called the hardest-working, self-made man anyone knew. He was a proud entrepreneur who created and helped build multiple businesses to serve the East Tennessee area. His heating & air conditioning company, General Air Service, started in 1969 and continues to be run by his family to this day. He was most proud that his sons, grandchildren, and many other family members learned from and worked with him throughout the years. Donnie's youngest son, Doug, will continue as the principal operator of the company, as he has for many years.

 He is preceded in death by his wife Alice Jesse Kirk, his parents, many aunts and uncles who helped raise him, and his beloved grandson Brandon Kirk.

He is survived by his sons and daughters-in-law, Cliff and Anna Kirk, Doug and Melissa Kirk; grandchildren, Emily, Christian, Laura, and Charlie; great-grandson Jones and his mother Rachel, as well as Mike Shopene, his brother David Kirk and sister-in-law Louise, his nieces and nephews David and Tammy Kirk, Kim and Jimmy Wilkerson, Brian and Sonya Kirk and their wonderful children and grandchildren.

A Celebration of Donnie’s life will be held Thursday, March 13, 2025, at 5:00 PM at St. Elizabeth's Episcopal Church, 110 Sugarwood Dr, Farragut, TN 37934. The Receiving of friends and reception will follow the service. A private family interment will take place another day.

Donnie was a proud Mason and Shriner and as such, should friends desire, memorial contributions may be made to:

Shriners Hospital for Children, attn: Office of Development. 2900 Rocky Point Drive, Tampa Florida, 33607 

https://lovetotherescue.org/

DougKirk@GeneralAirService.com