Obituary for Link R. Kairys
Link R. Kairys of Holly Hill, Florida passed away June 7th, 2022 at Advent Health Hospital, Orlando at 68 years of age, after a valiant fight following complications from heart
surgery.
Anyone who knew Mr. Link Kairys, would first know not to call him “Mr. Kairys”, as that was “his father”, and you would also know that he was a “one of a kind” type of guy.
Full of “jam” and always ready to speak his mind, it would be hard for anyone who crossed his path to forget him. He was a force in many of our lives, and would tell you
exactly “how the cow ate the cabbage.”
Link was born and raised on a tobacco farm, in Simcoe, Ontario, Canada, where he worked the fields and the kilns throughout his adolescence with his Lithuanian immigrant
parents. Link graduated from the University of Western Ontario with a degree in Political Science, concentrating on US History. Soon after graduation, he began his lifelong
career of selling anything to anyone. He first worked for General Motors and then Ford Motor Company. Work took him west to Regina, Saskatchewan but being the popular
social animal that he was, the miles didn’t stop him from emceeing dozens of weddings for family and friends who still lived on the eastern side of the country. It was at such
a wedding in Maryland that he met his wife Berni (Bernadeta) and found a way to get to know her, by claiming that he needed a ride from place to place during the weekend.
The two dated extremely long distance for a while, and decided that moving in together was a cheaper alternative to the outrageous long distance phone bills.
Link’s dream of becoming an American was realized when Berni and Link married in Toronto, Ontario on a rainy day in 1982 and soon after, they moved to Kansas City,
Missouri. While in Kansas City, Link pursued his passion of car dealership management and welcomed his two children in 1986 and 1990. The Kairys family finally settled in
Geneva, New York. where they raised their kids and became involved in the community. Link was always fond of and proud of his children’s accomplishments and enjoyed
welcoming and getting to know the many friends they brought home throughout the years. Link eventually saw the writing on the wall when the car industry faltered, and took
the opportunity to return to his farming roots. Link was instrumental in bringing GPS guidance systems to farmers and ultimately selling tractors and combines for Case IH
throughout the North-East and Southern Ontario. Link was known and admired for his tenacity, work ethics and sales achievements.
Storytelling is what Link thrived on and he had the ability to make anyone laugh, blush or roll their eyes with a single sentence. Link’s voice could be heard booming
throughout the room with all sorts of advice, lessons about American history, or the latest about a car to check out. Along with being partial to American produced vehicles,
Link enjoyed spending time talking with family and friends, playing a few rounds of euchre, Rummikub or chess, watching old westerns, cheering on the Blue Jays, adding
memorabilia to his “museum” and strolling the neighborhood with his bulldog, Butkus. Link was lucky enough to be promoted from Dad to “Pops” in 2019, and spent as much
time as the pandemic allowed, with his children and grandchildren.
Link is survived by his wife Berni, with whom he celebrated 40 years of marriage on June 5th, son Luke (Emily), “dotter” Katie (Amanda), grandchildren Rocco and June,
brother-in-law, Al (Donna) Bracius, nephew Ryan (Mary) Bracius and their three children, and cousins in Canada and Lithuania. Link was predeceased by his father Stan,
mother Helena, and brother Vidas.
Calling hours will be held Wednesday June 29th, 2022 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, 149 Genesee St, Geneva, NY followed by the funeral service
commencing at 11:00 a.m. A reception celebrating his life will follow at Big Oak Golf Course, 33 Packwood Rd, Geneva. Interment will be held at the convenience of the
family. The family would like to thank the brilliant team at Advent Health Heart Transplant Institute, Orlando, especially Dr. Shakar and all the Critical Care doctors, nurses
and technicians for their compassionate care and support over the last two months.
In lieu of flowers, and to continue his love of community, sports and his Lithuanian Heritage, the family requests that donations be made in his memory, to the Boys and Girls
Club of Geneva, to the Balzekas Museum in Chicago, or to the American/Canadian Heart Associations
Read More
surgery.
Anyone who knew Mr. Link Kairys, would first know not to call him “Mr. Kairys”, as that was “his father”, and you would also know that he was a “one of a kind” type of guy.
Full of “jam” and always ready to speak his mind, it would be hard for anyone who crossed his path to forget him. He was a force in many of our lives, and would tell you
exactly “how the cow ate the cabbage.”
Link was born and raised on a tobacco farm, in Simcoe, Ontario, Canada, where he worked the fields and the kilns throughout his adolescence with his Lithuanian immigrant
parents. Link graduated from the University of Western Ontario with a degree in Political Science, concentrating on US History. Soon after graduation, he began his lifelong
career of selling anything to anyone. He first worked for General Motors and then Ford Motor Company. Work took him west to Regina, Saskatchewan but being the popular
social animal that he was, the miles didn’t stop him from emceeing dozens of weddings for family and friends who still lived on the eastern side of the country. It was at such
a wedding in Maryland that he met his wife Berni (Bernadeta) and found a way to get to know her, by claiming that he needed a ride from place to place during the weekend.
The two dated extremely long distance for a while, and decided that moving in together was a cheaper alternative to the outrageous long distance phone bills.
Link’s dream of becoming an American was realized when Berni and Link married in Toronto, Ontario on a rainy day in 1982 and soon after, they moved to Kansas City,
Missouri. While in Kansas City, Link pursued his passion of car dealership management and welcomed his two children in 1986 and 1990. The Kairys family finally settled in
Geneva, New York. where they raised their kids and became involved in the community. Link was always fond of and proud of his children’s accomplishments and enjoyed
welcoming and getting to know the many friends they brought home throughout the years. Link eventually saw the writing on the wall when the car industry faltered, and took
the opportunity to return to his farming roots. Link was instrumental in bringing GPS guidance systems to farmers and ultimately selling tractors and combines for Case IH
throughout the North-East and Southern Ontario. Link was known and admired for his tenacity, work ethics and sales achievements.
Storytelling is what Link thrived on and he had the ability to make anyone laugh, blush or roll their eyes with a single sentence. Link’s voice could be heard booming
throughout the room with all sorts of advice, lessons about American history, or the latest about a car to check out. Along with being partial to American produced vehicles,
Link enjoyed spending time talking with family and friends, playing a few rounds of euchre, Rummikub or chess, watching old westerns, cheering on the Blue Jays, adding
memorabilia to his “museum” and strolling the neighborhood with his bulldog, Butkus. Link was lucky enough to be promoted from Dad to “Pops” in 2019, and spent as much
time as the pandemic allowed, with his children and grandchildren.
Link is survived by his wife Berni, with whom he celebrated 40 years of marriage on June 5th, son Luke (Emily), “dotter” Katie (Amanda), grandchildren Rocco and June,
brother-in-law, Al (Donna) Bracius, nephew Ryan (Mary) Bracius and their three children, and cousins in Canada and Lithuania. Link was predeceased by his father Stan,
mother Helena, and brother Vidas.
Calling hours will be held Wednesday June 29th, 2022 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, 149 Genesee St, Geneva, NY followed by the funeral service
commencing at 11:00 a.m. A reception celebrating his life will follow at Big Oak Golf Course, 33 Packwood Rd, Geneva. Interment will be held at the convenience of the
family. The family would like to thank the brilliant team at Advent Health Heart Transplant Institute, Orlando, especially Dr. Shakar and all the Critical Care doctors, nurses
and technicians for their compassionate care and support over the last two months.
In lieu of flowers, and to continue his love of community, sports and his Lithuanian Heritage, the family requests that donations be made in his memory, to the Boys and Girls
Club of Geneva, to the Balzekas Museum in Chicago, or to the American/Canadian Heart Associations
Loading...