Richard Nathan Kirkham

Richard Nathan Kirkham, husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, uncle, and friend, passed away May 5th, 2020, in his home in Draper, Utah, of prostate cancer. He was born April 14, 1940, in Salt Lake City, Utah, to Ralph Nathan Kirkham and Cora Mary Barkdull. He graduated from East High School and then the University of Utah with a Bachelor’s in English Education and a Master’s in Education. He married Cathryn Call on June 17, 1966, in the Salt Lake Temple. He was an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, a member of the high priests quorum, and served in many positions with wisdom, patience, empathy, and acceptance. He was called to the South German Mission in 1960, and returned to Germany in 2004 with his wife Cathryn, to serve as a branch president in the Germany Berlin Mission. Within his many positions in the church over the years, he will be most remembered in his service as a high priests group leader, youth Sunday School teacher, and Young Single Adult leader in Minneapolis, and as a ministering brother and Sunday School teacher at the Utah State Prison in Draper, Utah.
Richard loved to learn, to travel, and especially loved the arts. As a child he lived on Logan Avenue, a Rockwellesque street full of children, games, competitions, bicycles, and sledding. He learned to play the piano, and fell in love with classical music through the Utah Symphony’s free children’s concerts. He also fell in love with going to the movies in various theaters in downtown Salt Lake City, and carried the love of cinema throughout life. On days that he was not in a concert or movie theater, he checked out and read dozens of books from the Sugar House library, amazed that he could do so for free. As a high school student, he earned the rank of Eagle Scout and was a regular in East High theater productions as well as the a cappella group. After teaching in Bountiful, Utah and earning a master’s degree, he moved with his wife Cathryn to begin a doctoral program at the University of Minnesota. With a small child and twins on the way, he was accepted for a Fulbright scholarship to teach in Bremen, Germany, after which he took his family on a short tour of Europe. Returning to Minnesota, as a teacher in the Robbinsdale School District, for several years he created and produced a monthly magazine called Teachers’ Guide to 2, to help school teachers find educational content aired by Twin Cities Public Television. In addition to teaching English, he directed theater at Sandburg Junior High and TV production at the district magnet school, Technology Learning Campus. At TLC he incorporated drama and playwriting into his curriculum, as well as his trademark curriculum: an in-depth study of the film It’s a Wonderful Life. He spoke proudly about his colleagues and students at TLC, and he will long be remembered by them.
In sacrament meetings he maintained perfect pitch while booming out the bass harmonies of the hymns. Until the end, he would raise an index finger to “conduct” the classical and choral music he loved listening to. Forty years after his last high school performance, he had a leading role in the LDS musical production, Footsteps of Faith. He effortlessly and convincingly played the patriarch of a pioneer family, inspired by his own great-grandparents, all of whom immigrated to Utah in the mid-1800s. In retirement he volunteered as an usher for the Minnesota Orchestra, then upon returning to Utah became a regular at organ recitals, both at the Tabernacle and Conference Center in Salt Lake City. On Sundays he watched The Tabernacle Choir performances on TV, and his radio was always tuned to the classical station.
As a father, he took his children on many road trips to national parks, monuments, tourist traps, and vacation destinations. More than the road trips, he loved to take his children to any and all museums he could, at one time leading his family on a two-week trip to the Netherlands, Germany, and Austria, which included several castle tours, music performances, and museums. In his later years, he loved to travel with his wife, Cathryn, and continued to visit and learn about new places, very often bringing family members along. He lived in Germany three times in his life, traveled around Europe, cruised the Caribbean and Alaska, drove through at least half of the United States, and visited as many LDS historical sites as he had the opportunity to. Throughout it all, he carefully documented everything so he could share with others his experiences, and what he learned along his travels. He leaves behind myriad 8 mm films, slides, photos, video tapes, iMovies, and 27 different digitally produced Christmas cards; his first showcasing his first grandchild, and his last showcasing his second great-grandchild. He loved to create, to share, and to teach, and he did so ardently throughout his 80 years of life. He passed on his love of travel, learning, art, theater, and especially music, to all of his children and grandchildren, all of whom have played instruments, sung in choral groups, and/or acted in musicals and plays. He was well-respected by colleagues, friends, and extended family. He was modest and humble, often withdrawn in social situations, but the one his children turned to when they needed a hug, advice, or a phone call just to talk. He leaves behind a legacy of faith, education, music, art, leadership, and love. It truly was a wonderful life.
Richard is survived by his children, Kristin Lyman (Greg), Houston, TX; Karen Kirkham, Salt Lake City, UT; Sharon Cliff (John), Dallas, TX; Jonathan Kirkham (Mirjam), Minneapolis, MN; Benjamin Kirkham (Jenne), Stillwater, MN; 14 grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; brother, Roger Kirkham (Judy), Salt Lake City, UT. He was preceded in death by his wife Cathryn, and parents, Ralph and Mary Kirkham.
A memorial service will be held at a later date, when family and friends can safely gather to honor Richard. In lieu of flowers, donations in Richard’s name may be sent to the Huntsman Cancer Institute at the University of Utah.