Obituary for Paul Richard Kinvig
Paul Kinvig
August 14th, 1946 - Friday, June 10th, 2022
On Friday, June 10, 2022, the quality of music in heaven increased immensely as Paul Kinvig passed away at the age of 75.
Paul was born on August 14, 1946 in Trochu, Alberta – the second of John and Bertha Kinvig’s four children. John served as a minister, and the family moved often in Paul’s early years – from Three Hills, Alberta, to the Crowsnest Pass communities of Bellevue and Blairmore, before ultimately settling in Calgary, where Paul completed most of his schooling and graduated from Forest Lawn High School in 1964.
It was during his childhood that Paul’s lifelong passions for music and Christian service were ignited. He accepted Jesus as his saviour at an early age, and from the time they were small, the Kinvig children were involved in their parents’ ministry, playing instruments and singing in church. Bertha taught all of her children the piano, and Paul also learned the trumpet.
He would go on to pursue a distinguished education in music, earning a diploma in Bible and music from Prairie Bible Institute in Three Hills; a Bachelor of Arts from Cedarville College in Ohio; and beginning his Master of Music degree at Ohio State University and ultimately completing it at the University of Idaho.
Paul returned to Three Hills to serve as a professor at Prairie Bible Institute, and it was there that he met the love of his life, Sharon Dorsch, who also worked on staff. Their romance was start-and-stop to say the least – Sharon had been accepted to serve in a missionary children’s school in Venezuela, and with her departure imminent, they broke up. But two years later, after Sharon came back to Three Hills on furlough, Paul took her for a drive and told her he felt it was the Lord’s will that they be together. They were married on July 8, 1978.
Children arrived shortly thereafter – Daniel Paul in 1980, LeAnn Joy in 1982, and Joshua Caleb in 1986. Paul loved taking his kids on adventures, like Friday evening trips to the swimming pool, Sunday afternoon hikes, and summer vacations to Grandpa and Grandma Kinvig’s orchard in Summerland, B.C.
Paul poured a lot of energy into moulding his children into musicians, to a certain degree of success. But tragically, all three of them were more passionate about sports and earned college scholarships for their prowess in basketball and volleyball.
Paul spent his entire professional career as a music professor in Bible college settings – first at Prairie Bible Institute (from 1971 to 1993) and then at Peace River Bible Institute in Sexsmith, Alberta (from 1993 through his retirement in 2008). Over those years, he taught hundreds of piano students, and led dozens of choirs on tours across Canada and the United States on behalf of both PBI and PRBI. Paul took great joy in providing students with these foundational life experiences, and was appreciated by his students for his gentle spirit and sense of humour.
Paul also showcased an entrepreneurial streak, purchasing a fourplex in Three Hills which he managed with help from Sharon and the kids, and later buying the bottle depot in Sexsmith and growing the business immensely through a variety of creative strategies. The Sexsmith Bottle Depot provided part-time employment for not only the Kinvig kids, but for dozens of young people in the community over the years. For many, it was their first job, and Paul and Sharon are remembered fondly for creating a fun family-oriented setting while conveying a strong work ethic.
After retiring from PRBI and selling the bottle depot, Paul and Sharon moved to Calgary, where their children LeAnn and Josh had settled. In retirement, Paul continued his passion for regular exercise, was an active participant at Harvest Hills Alliance Church, and traveled extensively with Sharon. He also derived great joy from revisiting one of his childhood hobbies – artwork. Pen and ink was his chosen medium, and he particularly excelled at sketching horses, along with countryside scenes and portraits.
Paul was incredibly generous helping his children with projects, from yardwork to gardening to house painting, despite battling Parkinson’s disease in his later years. His greatest joy was spending time with his grandchildren, and the feeling was mutual. “Poppy”, as he was known, was renowned for reading stories to his grandkids for hours on end, and for baking incredible chocolate chip cookies.
Paul is lovingly remembered by his wife of 43 years, Sharon (Dorsch) Kinvig; children, Daniel (Danielle) Kinvig, LeAnn (Tim) Snyder and Josh (Maegan) Kinvig; grandchildren, Cadence, Caleb and Boaz Kinvig, Micah, Lane and William Snyder, and Jane, Louise and Winston Kinvig; sister, Charlotte Kinvig Bates and family; and sister-in-law, Sharon (Fast) Kinvig and family.
Paul is predeceased by his parents, John and Bertha (Maerz) Kinvig; brothers, Milton Kinvig and Winston Kinvig; and grandson, Benjamin Snyder.
A Celebration of Life will be held on Thursday, June 16, 2022, at Harvest Hills Alliance Church (10099 Harvest Hills Boulevard NW, Calgary, AB). Visitation is from 10:15-10:45 a.m., followed by a funeral service (11 a.m.), and a light lunch and time of fellowship (12-1:30 p.m.). The burial will take place at Maerz Cemetery in Three Hills, Alberta at 3 p.m. All are welcome.
The funeral service will be livestreamed – Click on this Youtube Link.
Memorial donations can be made to Peace River Bible Institute.
To view and share photos, condolences and memories of Paul, please visit www.choicememorial.com.
August 14th, 1946 - Friday, June 10th, 2022
On Friday, June 10, 2022, the quality of music in heaven increased immensely as Paul Kinvig passed away at the age of 75.
Paul was born on August 14, 1946 in Trochu, Alberta – the second of John and Bertha Kinvig’s four children. John served as a minister, and the family moved often in Paul’s early years – from Three Hills, Alberta, to the Crowsnest Pass communities of Bellevue and Blairmore, before ultimately settling in Calgary, where Paul completed most of his schooling and graduated from Forest Lawn High School in 1964.
It was during his childhood that Paul’s lifelong passions for music and Christian service were ignited. He accepted Jesus as his saviour at an early age, and from the time they were small, the Kinvig children were involved in their parents’ ministry, playing instruments and singing in church. Bertha taught all of her children the piano, and Paul also learned the trumpet.
He would go on to pursue a distinguished education in music, earning a diploma in Bible and music from Prairie Bible Institute in Three Hills; a Bachelor of Arts from Cedarville College in Ohio; and beginning his Master of Music degree at Ohio State University and ultimately completing it at the University of Idaho.
Paul returned to Three Hills to serve as a professor at Prairie Bible Institute, and it was there that he met the love of his life, Sharon Dorsch, who also worked on staff. Their romance was start-and-stop to say the least – Sharon had been accepted to serve in a missionary children’s school in Venezuela, and with her departure imminent, they broke up. But two years later, after Sharon came back to Three Hills on furlough, Paul took her for a drive and told her he felt it was the Lord’s will that they be together. They were married on July 8, 1978.
Children arrived shortly thereafter – Daniel Paul in 1980, LeAnn Joy in 1982, and Joshua Caleb in 1986. Paul loved taking his kids on adventures, like Friday evening trips to the swimming pool, Sunday afternoon hikes, and summer vacations to Grandpa and Grandma Kinvig’s orchard in Summerland, B.C.
Paul poured a lot of energy into moulding his children into musicians, to a certain degree of success. But tragically, all three of them were more passionate about sports and earned college scholarships for their prowess in basketball and volleyball.
Paul spent his entire professional career as a music professor in Bible college settings – first at Prairie Bible Institute (from 1971 to 1993) and then at Peace River Bible Institute in Sexsmith, Alberta (from 1993 through his retirement in 2008). Over those years, he taught hundreds of piano students, and led dozens of choirs on tours across Canada and the United States on behalf of both PBI and PRBI. Paul took great joy in providing students with these foundational life experiences, and was appreciated by his students for his gentle spirit and sense of humour.
Paul also showcased an entrepreneurial streak, purchasing a fourplex in Three Hills which he managed with help from Sharon and the kids, and later buying the bottle depot in Sexsmith and growing the business immensely through a variety of creative strategies. The Sexsmith Bottle Depot provided part-time employment for not only the Kinvig kids, but for dozens of young people in the community over the years. For many, it was their first job, and Paul and Sharon are remembered fondly for creating a fun family-oriented setting while conveying a strong work ethic.
After retiring from PRBI and selling the bottle depot, Paul and Sharon moved to Calgary, where their children LeAnn and Josh had settled. In retirement, Paul continued his passion for regular exercise, was an active participant at Harvest Hills Alliance Church, and traveled extensively with Sharon. He also derived great joy from revisiting one of his childhood hobbies – artwork. Pen and ink was his chosen medium, and he particularly excelled at sketching horses, along with countryside scenes and portraits.
Paul was incredibly generous helping his children with projects, from yardwork to gardening to house painting, despite battling Parkinson’s disease in his later years. His greatest joy was spending time with his grandchildren, and the feeling was mutual. “Poppy”, as he was known, was renowned for reading stories to his grandkids for hours on end, and for baking incredible chocolate chip cookies.
Paul is lovingly remembered by his wife of 43 years, Sharon (Dorsch) Kinvig; children, Daniel (Danielle) Kinvig, LeAnn (Tim) Snyder and Josh (Maegan) Kinvig; grandchildren, Cadence, Caleb and Boaz Kinvig, Micah, Lane and William Snyder, and Jane, Louise and Winston Kinvig; sister, Charlotte Kinvig Bates and family; and sister-in-law, Sharon (Fast) Kinvig and family.
Paul is predeceased by his parents, John and Bertha (Maerz) Kinvig; brothers, Milton Kinvig and Winston Kinvig; and grandson, Benjamin Snyder.
A Celebration of Life will be held on Thursday, June 16, 2022, at Harvest Hills Alliance Church (10099 Harvest Hills Boulevard NW, Calgary, AB). Visitation is from 10:15-10:45 a.m., followed by a funeral service (11 a.m.), and a light lunch and time of fellowship (12-1:30 p.m.). The burial will take place at Maerz Cemetery in Three Hills, Alberta at 3 p.m. All are welcome.
The funeral service will be livestreamed – Click on this Youtube Link.
Memorial donations can be made to Peace River Bible Institute.
To view and share photos, condolences and memories of Paul, please visit www.choicememorial.com.