Kirk Stuart Ylinen

We honor and celebrate the Inspiring Life of KIRK STUART YLINEN. Kirk will be cherished and remembered through the legacy of his family and friends.

Adam

A Tribute to Corky – The Legend We Were Lucky to Love

It’s hard to put into words what it meant to know Dad (Corky), but if you were lucky enough to have crossed his path, you already know. He wasn’t just a man. He was a force. A legend. A goofball with a heart of gold, an unshakable will, and a world-class sweet tooth that could sniff out cookies from three counties away… especially if they were oatmeal raisin.

Corky was as strong as an ox, as stubborn as a mule, and had a finely tuned, borderline-OCD precision that made you think he was in charge of alphabetizing cereal aisles; everything had its place, and God help if you moved it. But what made him unforgettable was how he gave of himself, every day. He showed us what it meant to go the extra mile, to be kind without condition, and to show up when people needed you most.

He wasn’t just a cancer survivor, he was a cancer fighter, a patient advocate, and a walking inspiration. For nearly two decades after his first battle, he encouraged the newly diagnosed with warmth, strength, and the kind of humor that could make you laugh even in your darkest hour. He made people feel seen. He made people feel strong. And let’s be honest, he probably gave them a ridiculous nickname in the process.

Corky’s smile was contagious. His laughter was unmistakable. And his legendary spirit lives on in every person he touched; family, friends, strangers-turned-friends, and everyone in between. He taught us to work hard, to never give up, and to laugh…loudly, often, and especially at ourselves.

As Corky once shared from a survivor calendar, quoting U2: “It’s a beautiful day, don’t let it get away.”

That was his message to us then, and it’s his legacy now. So today, and every day, we’ll honor him by living fully, loving fiercely, and embracing our inner goof. We'll eat the damn cookie. We’ll be kind. We’ll give 42 nicknames to our pets. And we’ll carry his soul with us, proud to say: We knew Corky. We loved him. And it was a true privilege to call him ours.

Rest easy, legend. You’ll never be forgotten.

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Keely

A father, grandfather, husband, son, brother, loyal friend and so much more. A man who would give the shirt off of his back or drop everything to help anyone and everyone; while never for one second expecting anything in return. Through this difficult chapter we have found that he was loved and admired by so many people who he has touched in his life and all have nothing but positive attributes to remember him by. We choose not to remember Kirk with sadness or grief, although at times, we may feel like that’s all we have; but to cherish his name with love, laughter, and so many amazing adventures that he was looking forward to doing.Our thoughts are to contribute photos, memories, and kind words to share Kirk with all who loved him.

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Maritza

Kirk was kind and thoughtful. He was very independent, self-sufficient, and capable. He never asked for help, even though he was there to help anyone who needed it. He was funny and a joy to be around. He made my life full and rich in the 20 years we were together, I have so many happy memories that I’ll always cherish. He was a very good dad. He was extremely proud of his kids and grandkids. He touched so many people. I’m going to miss him terribly; he’s left a huge hole in my heart. He is the love of my life.

Please sign the digital guestbook below to leave a loving message or positive memory of Kirk with the family.