Joseph Edward Kirby

He is survived by the love of his life, his wife, Becky and their two children Robert and Beth as well as his three beautiful granddaughters Emmy, Julianne, and Eulalie. He is also survived by his sister Kitty and his nieces Kimberly and Angela as well as his sister-in-law Brenda. In addition to his family, he is survived by a lifetime of people he’s impacted that loved him dearly.

He was preceded in death by his parents Edd and Evelyn Kirby, every dog he ever loved (Big John, Papillion, and Beau Regard), and his brother in law, Jim, Brenda’s husband. We are all quite certain Jim and Joe are reunited, likely skiing impossible peaks and sharing a laugh.

For those of you that didn’t know him, you might have known him as Adventure Joe, owner of Edd Kirby’s Adventure Auto Group and the cartoon-like character people loved to hate for his silly commercials on the radio. But he was so, so much more than that to his family. He really was Adventure Joe.

A McCallie graduate class of ‘72 and an alum of University of Tennessee Knoxville, he made the local paper for being the first to ever jump off a mountain in Chattanooga in a hang glider. When sea-doos came out he souped one up and had one of the first and certainly the fastest on the lake, which he’d ride around on with his labrador, Beau, who loved it as much as Joe did.

From ultra-light planes to helicopters to bungee jumping, skydiving, dirt bikes, sail boats, and motorcycles, Joe never stopped going fast and being fearless. He was a pilot, a captain, a devoted husband, a generous business owner, and a wonderful father. He taught those in his life how to be adventurous too. All of our lives would have been smaller without him. But his adventurous spirit manifested in ways so much deeper than just being willing to jump out of a plane or sail the open sea.

He fearlessly loved God with all his heart. His faith was the cornerstone of who he was. He never hesitated to take care of an employee or family member that needed him. He conducted business with a relentless integrity that inspired us all. Among countless acts of kindness he, completely anonymously, helped the late, beloved Sandy the Flower man get a full mouth of pearly white teeth so his warm smile could shine. He participated in the Big Brother program passionately for his little brother Brandon’s entire life since he was four, and each Christmas would leave our family to go be with theirs too. Brandon is now 23, and Joe loved he and his family.

Of all the things he did, loving his wife was the most epic story of them all. Married for over forty years, they had a passionate partnership in life, love, and business.

He was indeed larger than life. A rare personality that while missed will continue to shape the world and community. He was big hearted and the least judgmental person any of us ever knew.

Rather than flowers, the family asks that you send prayers, and if you feel moved to do so, give a donation to the local Chattanooga Foodbank, a charity that was close to Joe’s heart. We ask that in loving memory you support the community the way he did whether that’s through sharing memories, prayers, or donations. As Joe used to say, there can be joy in suffering. And we all want to find the joy in this tragedy and celebrate his dynamic life because that’s what he would have wanted.

Joe, we love you and we miss you. A memorial service will be held on July 8th, 2021 at 3:00 pm with visitation from 1:00 pm until service time at the North Chapel of Chattanooga Funeral Home.

Arrangements are by the North Chapel of Chattanooga Funeral Home, Crematory, and Florist, 5401 Highway 153, Hixson, TN 37343.

Please share your thoughts and memories at www.chattanooganorthchapel.com