Kevin Mirek

Kevin Michael Mirek, father of Mary Catherine, Julia, Robert and Diana Mirek, brother of Mary Mirek McGuire of Upland, California, passed away on October 22, 2012 in his home in Little Rock, Arkansas. Kevin was an extraordinary man. From traveling the entire United States while working his job in Broadcasting, to learning fluent Spanish in Puerto Rico, and serving in the Navy, he saw places and lived life the way some can only dream about. He will always be remembered for his devotion to God, writing, playing the guitar, and his kindness to everyone.
Born February 4, 1949 in Franklin, North Carolina, Kevin was raised as a Catholic by his parents, Wilma and Aloysius Mirek. In his freshman year of high school, he had the privilege of moving to San Juan, Puerto Rico to attend Colegio San Ignacio de Loyola from which he graduated. While there, he became the Island Mile Champion for his high school track team, and because of those races, he made many friends and earned much respect. Under the instruction of the ruler-armed nuns, he quickly learned Spanish which soon became his second language.
After graduation, Kevin returned to the United States and decided to stay on the East Coast. He attended Providence College in Rhode Island and graduated from Western Carolina University. Wanting to serve his country, he became an Ensign in the U.S. Navy and served in Pensacola, Florida. Even though he only served for a couple of years, the Navy taught him to become a disciplined soldier and its careful instruction stuck with him for the rest of his days.
Following his military service, he chose a career in Broadcasting, working in a number of television and radio stations across the country. His career provided him with many varied opportunities, including meeting famous performers such as Don McClean, Usher and most of all, the casts of CW programs such as Everwood and Smallville. Along the way, he made friends with most, if not all, of his co-workers, spreading his kindness wherever he went. Though traveling consumed most of his time, he still kept strong in his faith, never missing a single Mass.
In his first marriage he became the father of Julia, Robert and Diana Mirek. In the fall of 1985, he met the love of his life, Carolyn Margaret Weiskopf, whom he married three months later on New Year's Eve. Five years after that, he assisted in the delivery of their daughter, Mary Catherine Mirek.
For the next fifteen years, the trio moved all over the United States, settling wherever Kevin worked. They had many grand adventures, exploring the Grand Canyon, Meteor Crater, Disneyland, Panama City Beach, Florida, Honolulu, Hawaii, New York City and Los Angeles, California. On May 31, 2005, his beautiful wife, Carolyn, was killed on I-630 in Little Rock when a piece of concrete was thrown through the windshield of her vehicle.
After his wife was taken from him, he remained close to his daughter, Mary Catherine, working hard so that they could move on from the horrible tragedy. To ease his pain, he remained close to the church, continuing to teach CCD and lector as he had for many years. Teaching children about God was his most favorite task in the entire world, which gave him comfort and peace. He also found strength in his words, constantly writing for Newsvine online, and writing his autobiography which awaits publication.
With his unending faith in God, service to his country, community, and church, and through his friends and family, Kevin Mirek touched the hearts of everyone he met, helping anyone who ever needed it and asked for it. We all loved Kevin, and he will never be forgotten.
The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated by Father Matthew Garrison on Friday, November 2 at 2:00 p.m. at the Cathedral of St. Andrew in Little Rock.
Arrangements by Little Rock Funeral Home, 8801 Knoedl Ct., (501)224-2200. Mr. Mirek's online guestbook may be signed at www.littlerockfuneralhome.com.