John Milton Spurgeon Kinvig, known as “Milt”, was born on October 21, 1949, in Blairmore, Alberta, Canada to John and Bertha (Maerz) Kinvig. Milt passed away, at peace, and in the glorious knowledge of the Lord, on October 11, 2021.

Milt was born the third of four children. His father John was a Minister and his mother Bertha, a homemaker. Milt accepted Jesus as his Savior at the age of five and lived the remainder of his life committed to the Christian faith.
Milt was always an enthusiastic athlete, playing a variety of sports, including football, soccer, and especially hockey. At one point, Milt won the scoring title for his Junior A hockey league—equivalent to Minor League hockey today. Milt was also very talented musically, playing trumpet, singing bass in choirs, playing piano, and even at one point accordion!

Milt strongly believed in the principle that no success can be achieved without hard work. This propelled Milt to work with his younger brother Winston on a railroad crew at the age of 14, building lines in Western Canada for an entire summer. Milt and Winston re-built motorcycles and cars together throughout their teenage years, the first of which was an Austin Healy. If anyone is curious, we all know where the tire marks in Heaven came from now that Milt and Winston have been reunited.

Milt graduated from Forest Lawn high school in Calgary, Alberta in 1967 and then proceeded to attend Prairie Bible Institute, graduating with an associate’s degree in Bible. Talented in the field of mathematics, Milt had a desire to pursue his college studies further. Milt arrived in the United States with very few resources ($100 and a small suitcase) but a hard work ethic and a strong desire to succeed at whatever he put his mind to. Once reaching the United States, Milt attended Bob Jones University, where he majored in Mathematics Education. He was also an usher, and worked tirelessly off-campus to pay his school bills, while going to school full-time. He was a mentor to many on campus during his time at Bob Jones—a fact that is still recounted by friends today.

Milt graduated from Bob Jones University in 1975 and took a teaching position at Silver State Baptist School in Lakewood, Colorado—a school both of his children would ultimately attend. Milt taught Junior High math and also coached Junior High football. Milt joined the choir at South Sheridan Baptist Church—the church associated with his school. It was in the choir that he met Sharon Kay Fast. After a whirlwind courtship, Milt proposed during Christmas 1975 while they were having dinner at the historic Banff Springs Hotel in Banff National Park, Canada. Milt sold a beloved Trans Am to buy Sharon her engagement ring—that was how much he loved her. Milt and Sharon were married on June 12, 1976—which was the beginning of a 45-year journey of love, happiness and many adventures.

After a few years of marriage, children came along. Cameron Winston was born first, followed three years later by Ashlyn Brooke. Milt and Sharon led both of their children in the ways of the Lord, and both children found Christ at an early age thanks to their examples. After encouraging both children through a K-12 education at the same school he previously taught at, Milt was an enormous source of encouragement as each child completed undergraduate, and then graduate degrees, and later went on to marry.

After leaving teaching, Milt worked in the oil and gas industry as well as in real estate for the remainder of his life. As a realtor, Milt was incredibly successful, selling over one thousand homes in his career. Milt was also the top selling agent in his Re/Max office more than once. Our family has many fond memories of working together on fix-and-flip homes and we will always cherish the moments we spent together. Milt also took his carpentry skills to Mexico several times to help build schools for children and he considered it such a privilege to be generous with his time and resources in the service of the Lord. The legacy and vision that Milt built in the field of real estate still runs strong as the family continues to pursue real estate investing and development.

Later in life, one of the most beautiful and precious gifts that Milt ever received came along—the birth of his only grandchild, Augustana Brooke. Milt was smitten instantly. In the brief time he knew Augustana, he loved her deeply. She, in turn, loved spending as much time as possible with her beloved “Pop Pop,” and would talk to him nearly every day on the phone. Milt would show her pictures to anyone available, declaring “Augustana is really something special.” He greatly cherished the last picnic they got to enjoy together, just a few days prior to his passing.

Milt was always there for his family (and his puppies), ready to offer encouragement, advice, love, support, spiritual guidance, and even a well-intentioned critique. He was often soft-spoken, was fiercely loyal, and was the hardest worker his family ever knew. Milt paired those aspects of his character with a vision that looked past the horizons that we all are normally limited by. These qualities equal the legacy that matters most to those that knew him best. We will always love and appreciate Milt, our Husband, Father, Grandfather, Brother and friend and we are secure in the knowledge that we will see him again in Heaven very soon.

Milt Kinvig was preceded in death by his younger brother Winston Kinvig and his parents John and Bertha (Maerz) Kinvig. Milt is survived by his loving wife of 45 years Sharon Kay (Fast) Kinvig, his son Cameron Winston Kinvig (Natalie Kinvig), his daughter Ashlyn Brooke Fast Kinvig DelPriore (Scott DelPriore), his granddaughter Augustana Brooke Kinvig DelPriore, his father and mother-in-law Elmer and Mary Fast, his sister Charlotte Bates, and his brother Paul Kinvig (Sharon Kinvig).