LaRena Marlene Kirsch

LaRena Marlene Thompson Kirsch passed away at age 81 in Casper, Wyoming. She was born to Milton Thompson and Caroline Marcella Williams in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

LaRena worked as a grade schoolteacher in Rawlins, Wyoming for many years. Before that she owned and operated the Lady Bug Preschool and Red Balloon Daycare at a time when owning your own business was uncommon for women. 

While she trained as a high school history teacher, her passion was always working with younger children. She loved that she could engage their silliness and sense of fun, singing and dancing in the classroom, and turning it into growth and development. She always told the students “ You can ask Mrs. Kirsch anything -- except her beauty secrets”. 

She did not let her interest in history go by the wayside. She was a passionate traveler both internationally and within the US. She brought the history of any place she visited alive for her traveling companions.

She had a quiet kindness that often presented itself as humor. She was incredibly clever, funny and imaginative and could bring people to tears laughing with her stories both real and fabricated. These are just some of the things for which she will be remembered fondly.

LaRena is survived by her husband Alcuin Joseph Kirsch Jr, daughters Caroline Kirsch (Craig Russell) and Kathleen Kirsch (James Koehn) and two granddaughters, Chloe Russell and Marcella Koehn.

Funeral services will be held at Bustard & Jacoby Funeral Home on July 20th at 10:30am with a reception to follow. Pastor Dee Lundberg of the United Church of Christ will be officiating.

Memorial Donations may be made to the Carbon County Library, 215 West Buffalo St., Rawlins, WY 82301.  The family wishes to extend their gratitude to the Carbon County Library for many years of reading pleasure and for all of the services they offer the community.