David R. Shirk

SHIRK, DAVID (DAVE) R., 61, passed away on the morning of Friday, February 17, 2012. Dave is survived by his wife, Chris Shirk; his parents, Don and Lorraine Shirk of Des Moines; son, Staff Sgt. Steven Shirk of Patrick Air Force Base (USAF); daughter, Catherine Shirk Reid (Kyle) of Orlando; sister, Julia Shirk (John Rupp) of Tulsa, OK; and grandson, Oliver Reid. He was preceded in death by a son, Jeffrey, who passed away in 1980. Dave was raised in Des Moines, IA and graduated from Roosevelt High School. He earned a BS degree in architecture from Iowa State University with a minor in structural engineering. He was employed for 30 years by EFCO, an international engineering, manufacturing and sales company as regional manager, overseeing the Southern US and Caribbean, and eventually transferring to Orlando. He played a key role in the design and construction of Cowboys Stadium, Georgia Dome, Roosevelt Bridge (Stuart, FL), Golden Glades Bridge (Miami, FL) and Comanche Peak Glen Rose Nuclear Power Station (TX). Dave had a strong passion for music and built his first electric guitar at the age of 13. He played in a band called The Quarry from 1966-1971 and was inducted into the Iowa Rock 'n Roll Music Association Hall of Fame in 2007, along with Ritchie Valens. The band traveled the central US from MN, ND and WI, south to TX, playing at colleges and concert halls. Besides headlining their own concerts, they opened for famous bands such as the Association, the Doors, and Neil Diamond, to name a few. They played several of the Byrds' songs due to Dave's mastery of the 12-string electric guitar, which was extremely rare, which brought much admiration from not only fans, but also from other bands. His hobbies included vintage guitars and classic sports cars. He followed Iowa and Iowa State football and often called his dad and friends to discuss the games. Dave quickly became involved in the Hunter's Creek community after moving to the Falcon Pointe neighborhood in 1994. He served on their neighborhood committee from June 1999 - December 2005, acting as chairperson from 1999-2001. He was elected to the Hunter's Creek Community Association Board of Directors in October 2000 and was elected President in November 2003, an office he held at the time of his death. Among the Board committees that Dave served on, both formerly and currently, were the Architectural Review, Finance, Management, Public Safety, Strategic Planning, Recreation Facilities, School, and Town Hall Oversight Committees. He was a member of the Community Emergency Response Team and founder of the Citizens on Patrol program, both aimed at keeping the residents of Hunter's Creek safe. Dave served as a Neighborhood Watch coordinator, initiated an emergency plan for Hunter's Creek and established the Community Alert Network system. Dave served on several ad-hoc committees as well, including the Deputy Task Force and the Document Revision Committee. Dave was recognized by his community in December 2010 when he was chosen as Outstanding Volunteer Community Leader of the Year; a lake near his home was named in his honor to commemorate this event. Dave was a strong advocate for the community of Hunter's Creek, extolling its virtues at every opportunity. He acted as a liaison between Hunter's Creek and Orange County government and was instrumental in bringing the annual joint meeting between Hunter's Creek and Orange County to fruition. He has facilitated candidate forums and Town Hall meetings with both local and state officials. Dave has served on several Orange County Boards and advisory committees, including the Citizens Corps (appointed by the mayor), the Orange County Homeowner's Association Alliance (Vice President), the Orange County Sheriff's Advisory Council and the Orange County Redistricting Advisory Committee. He was honored by Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs in 2008 as District 1's Citizen of the Year. He also took on the project of fighting the prospect of high speed rail being run directly through Hunter's Creek. Dave spearheaded this issue from 2002 through late 2004, which culminated in the defeat of the bill and a celebration that featured a visit from Governor Jeb Bush. Dave also fought the "Big Box" Ordinance of 2007 to prevent large retailers from changing the landscape around Hunter's Creek. Dave has been recognized by the county several times for all the good work he has done to promote safety in his community. Dave was fond of saying that Hunter's Creek is "A Wonderful Place to Live" and he played a large part in making that statement true. A Celebration of Life and Tribute to Dave is planned for 7 p.m. on Thursday, March 8 at the Hunter's Creek Town Hall, located at 14101 Town Loop Blvd., Orlando, FL, 32837. The funeral will be held on Saturday, February 25 at 2 p.m. at the Westminster Presbyterian Church in Des Moines. The family asks that memorials be given in Dave's memory to the Hunter's Creek Community Association for a project yet to be determined. Checks can be made to the "Dave Shirk Memorial Fund," PNC Bank, 13583 Hunter's Oak Drive, Orlando FL 32837, to the attention of Amy Benison.