John Robert Kivi Obituary (2024)

John Robert Kivi went home to be with Jesus on July 27, 2024, in the presence of his wife. He was born on March 2, 1975 in Yakima, where he stayed to build his life and legacy. John Kivi grew up in the Yakima Valley and got to work early -- he started working the paper route when he was just 12. He loved working and growing up at Evans Nursery with Larry Evans, especially harvesting Christmas trees each winter. After high school, John married the love of his life, Jenna on December 11, 1993. He became a father at the age of 18, but he was more prepared than those twice his age. As a young dad battling the odds, John's devotion to his children and the legacy he would leave them pushed him to work harder, go farther, scale higher and taught them to do the same. John worked several jobs to support his new little family, including construction, attending car washes, and volunteering for the West Valley Fire Department. He became a prolific career builder, and entirely self-made. John opened his own car wash, and what is now Northwest Wash Systems in 2001 -- accepting clients across the Pacific Northwest and beyond. Over the next 20+ years, he grew the Northwest Wash Systems team, deeply caring for each team member and their family. John always wanted to grow a thriving business, but he was a caretaker at heart. He wanted people to enrich their lives beyond work. John's daughters, Hannah (1994) and Grace (2005), never questioned his love for them. He told them he loved them every chance he could and showed them in the way he served them and their mother. Watching them both play softball, absorbed in Hannah's profound writing, listening to Gracee's beautiful voice -- these were some of his biggest joys. When Hannah married John Haas in 2018, he discovered a son and best friend, and bestowed him the name "Sully." John's capacity for love grew ten sizes when his grandson Jack was born in 2021. Jack would often prefer his Papa's company over everyone else, even over his parents. They were the best of friends, and Jack saw Papa as the brightest star in his orbit. On the surface, John seemed like a man of few words. But he was highly observant, keenly intuitive, a well of empathy, and funny when you least expected it. John genuinely cherished each person in his life, and made sure they felt it. He often worked behind the scenes, and his integrity was unparalleled. Sometimes John loved to ask self-revealing questions to his family around the dinner table -- even though he knew his family well, he always wanted more insight on how to love them better. He fixed things before anyone even had a chance to ask, and he noticed the littlest details. John was never without a hat, and he always announced his entrance with a loud diesel truck. He sang around in the house on the weekends and made phenomenal biscuits and gravy. He rarely missed a softball game for his girls, often standing directly behind the backstop. John had an affinity for picking out the best Christmas trees, starting campfires, and collecting sand dollars on the beach. He was the first to wake up, and the first to fall asleep while watching a movie. John also had a lifelong devotion to learning and growing -- he was consistently picking up new books and podcasts. Some of his favorite hobbies included hiking with his wife, trying a new beer with Hannah, blowing up balloons with Jack, eating chocolate chip cookies made by Grace, and dreaming up new truck ideas with Sully. John loved Jenna most of all -- he made sure to remind everyone of this fact, especially her. He took care of everything around her, spoiled her often with flowers, "thinking of you" texts and always cheering her on. Making life beautiful around Jenna was his constant motivation. He enthusiastically supported all of her activities and new ventures; he encouraged her to push herself and use her gifts. Even with a demanding work schedule, John would pick her up and take her anywhere he wanted, especially the coast. It was the kind of love he observed with his grandparents, Beryl and Dave Hamilton, and wanted to model for his girls. John and Jenna spent most of those thirty anniversaries along Cannon Beach. Wherever John went, he made sure to leave that place better than he found it. And in the end, he has been remembered by how he made people feel. His faith, kindness, integrity, grit, love -- he left his imprint and the world is so much better for it. John will be dearly missed by his wife Jenna, his parents Robert and Sharon, his sister Lisa (JP, Larissa, Walker), his daughters Hannah (John) and Grace, and his grandson Jack. A celebration of life will be held at Yakima Foursquare Church at 2:00pm on Saturday, August 10th, 2024. Brookside Funeral Home is caring for the family. Memories and condolences can be shared at www.brooksidefuneral.com.